8th amendment remains divisive topic on the campaign trail

Candidates have faced questions about the 8th amendment on doorsteps this election.

Most parties have addressed the issue in their party manifestos and with polling fast approaching, the Pro Life Campaign wants the electorate to use their ballot to vote to protect human life.

Abortion is rarely out of the headlines and has been a divisive topic here for decades.

In this election, most parties have taken a stance on the 8th amendment - which gives equal rights to the mother and to the unborn child.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has said they want it repealed: “Yes we want it to be repealed and we want it to be replaced with legislation and we will remove that if we get the mandate to do so

“We think that those women who want to go full term when they have a fatal foetal abnormality should be helped to do that but those women who want to end their term or have a termination should be supported in doing that.

“We are not the people who should judge.”

Labour, the Greens and the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit party all have repeal the 8th in their manifestos.

Co-leader of the Social Democrats Roisin Shortall has said they are committed to holding a referendum on the issue: “You know it is only in those circumstances where we have clear sight of the kind of legislation that would replace the 8th amendment that people can actually vote in the knowledge of what will happen in the event of it being repealed.

“And we would support that approach to the 8th amendment.

Today the Pro Life movement is calling on people to use their ballot on Friday to vote to protect life.

Deputy Chairperson Cora Sherlock has said a referendum on abortion is not the answer: “Why aren’t they putting supports in place?

“Proper childcare, maternity care, perinatal hospital care for families that are dealing with difficult diagnosis,

“That’s what we need in this country and that is what we expect our politicians to deliver.”