‘England’s proximity meant Ireland did not have to legislate for abortion’

If it was not for England being so close, Ireland would have had to legislate for abortion years ago due to the number of women who would have died in “backstreet” terminations here, the Dáil heard.

Labour TD Robert Dowds made the claim as the Dáil debated the impact of Savita Halappanavar’s death. A Sinn Féin emergency motion to legislate for the X-case judgment in the wake of Mrs Halappanavar’s death was easily defeated by the Government, as ministers insisted they would bring legal clarity to the situation shortly.

In an emotional contribution, Sinn Féin’s Cork North Central TD Jonathan O’Brien said he was opposed to abortion as he and his wife had “watched helplessly” as a life they had created “slipped away” on more than one occasion, but he felt medical termination should be available in some circumstances.