64% of voters ‘support some form of abortion’

More than a third of the electorate supports the Government’s decision to legislate for abortion — in certain circumstances.

According to the first RedC opinion poll of the year, 35% of the electorate support the Government’s decision to legalise the X case, allowing abortion where the mother’s life is at risk, including by suicide.

A further 29% said they would favour going further and support legalising abortion in any case where a woman requests it. This means that at least 64% of all voters support some form of abortion.

Just over a quarter of the electorate (26%) would prefer to see a constitutional amendment to limit the X case, by excluding the threat of suicide to the mother’s life as a reason for abortion, while just 8% said they didn’t want to see any form of abortion legislation.

While the majority of voters is supportive of the Government’s position, the poll shows that for one in four voters the inclusion of suicide is a step too far.

Commenting on the results, Pro Life Campaign spokeswoman Cora Sherlock said the results highlighted how confused the public was.

“We are not in the least bit surprised at these findings, given the level of public confusion on the issue at the moment. For example, there is a strong public perception that abortion is needed to save women’s lives in the case of threatened suicide.”

Ms Sherlock said the Government “would be ill-advised” to proceed with the legislation, stating the X case decision was the basis for wide-ranging abortion.

Sinéad Ahern of Pro-Choice Ireland said the results were not surprising and showed the Irish people had a compassionate view of the abortion issue.

“Far from being for or against abortion, they have taken a very nuanced and compassionate stance on it depending on the circumstances,” she said.