Readers Blog: Maternity outcomes here not best in world

There is no truth in Gearóid Duffy’s claim that ‘Ireland, and other countries without abortion, have consistently had the best maternity outcomes in the world’ (Irish Examiner, September 19).

Until a couple of years ago, there was a mistaken belief that we had an extraordinarily low

maternity death rate. This is because we only began to collect statistics in 2009.

Our maternal death rate is between nine and 10 per 100,000.

That is, our maternity outcomes are the same as in the wealthy developed European states that permit abortion on request.

It is time for the public and politicians alike to listen to those who understand what is happening in maternity wards and how the Eighth Amendment affects both women and doctors.

Dr Rhona Mahony, master of the National Maternity Hospital, has called for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, because it is a danger to the lives of girls and women, stigmatises women, and places unfair pressures on doctors.

She also said: “We cannot keep sending women to England and pretending it doesn’t happen.” Yet, that is the approach of those who oppose repeal: don’t have a referendum; pretend it doesn’t happen; repeat pretend statistics.

Nearly 25 years ago, the Irish people voted through the Thirteenth Amendment (giving women the right to travel). That is, we decided that Irish women had the right to access abortion in Britain.

Let us end the hypocrisy and pretence. Next year, the Irish people will vote on whether to remove the unnecessarily cruel barrier that is the Eighth Amendment.

Let’s face up to reality. Let’s repeal the Eighth Amendment.

Glenys Spray

Ballinlough

Cork