ULA call for change in abortion legislation

The United Left Alliance will today mark International Day for Decriminalisation of Abortion, with a call for a change in Irish legislation to make the procedure legal.

The party are calling for legislation on abortion to be updated to allow for a pregnant woman to terminate their pregnancy under certain circumstances.

Joan Collins of the ULA says the party does not stand over abortion as a method of contraception but says there is a need for its legalisation in Ireland in some instances.

Ms Collins says Irish women should not be forced to travel abroad to undergo an abortion: "In the case of rape, many of us would see that abortion should be legislated for in Ireland.

"There's a general feeling in society that we cannot keep exporting…150,000 women have travelled to Britain for abortions since 1980, 12 a day. We can't keep sweeping it under the carpet."