Embryos should be protected, claims poll

A SURVEY for a pro-life group has said two out of three Irish people believe the Constitution should protect human embryos and prevent abortions unless medically necessary.

The conclusion, disputed by pro-choice groups, was made by a national poll of 1,025 people over the age of 18 by Red C.

The pro-choice Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) said the poll findings do not take account of the fact the European Court of Human Rights, Ireland’s Supreme Court and two previous referenda on the issue have confirmed “women have a right to access abortion services in Ireland”.

As part of the survey, participants were asked for their view on whether “the unborn” should be protected under the constitution.

The same question in the three-question poll — two of which related to the abortion issue — said this would still allow for “the continuation of the existing practice of intervention to save a mother’s life in accordance with Irish medical ethics”.

According to Dr Berry Kiely of the Pro-Life Campaign, 68% of respondents “support constitutional protection for the unborn”, 26% oppose it and 5% did not state an opinion.

A second question in the same survey asked whether the next Government “should legislate, or not, to protect human embryos in the area of stem cell research and assisted human reproduction”.

According to the results, 62% of participants are in favour of this situation, 27% oppose it and 11% have no view on the matter.

Dr Kiely said the survey findings show that “a sizeable majority of the public supports legal protection for the unborn child”.

However, in a statement IFPA chief executive, Niall Behan, said the debate has already been the subject of court decisions.

“In December 2010, the European Court of Human Rights reaffirmed the judgement of the Irish Supreme Court and the outcome of two referenda that women have a right to access abortion services in Ireland when their life is at risk.

“Regardless of which parties form the next Government, the State now has no option but to legislate to make this right a reality for women living in Ireland,” Mr Behan said.

Poll questions

Red C poll questions:

* Are you in favour of or opposed to constitutional protection for the unborn that prohibits abortion but allows the continuation of the existing practice of intervention to save a mother’s life in accordance with Irish medical ethics?

* In a recent Supreme Court decision, judges said that human embryos are not protected by the Constitution but deserve respect and their protection is a matter for the Government.

Should the Government legislate or not to protect human embryos in the area of stem cell research and assisted-human reproduction?

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