71% support plan to legislate for abortion

A new poll shows that 71% of people would support the Government's plan to legislate for abortion.

The Ipsos/MRBI survey in today's Irish Times shows that the majority of voters also want much wider access to abortion than is being proposed by the coalition, with 85% saying it should be allowed in certain circumstances.

Asked if abortion should be permitted in cases of rape and incest, 78% said it should be allowed, while 79% said it should be available when the foetus is not capable of surviving outside the womb.

Supporters of both coalition parties strongly backed the Government's proposal to legislate for the X-case. It was also backed by followers of Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil, as well as Independents.