Abortion debate is far from over as it now spreads into normal life

Abortion is not as black and white as people might portray it, and ‘there is a lot of grey’ in this profound, complex moral issue, writes Alison O’Connor.

MY FRIEND, a pro-choice activist, seemed annoyed with me. “It’s great to hear reason and respect,” began the text from her on Monday morning. “Ultimately though my question is how can a person be respectful if what they are saying is that women should be forbidden from exercising their reproductive rights?”

She was responding to a tweet I had just posted. In it I gave credit to Fianna Fáil finance spokesman Michael McGrath who was on the Today with Sean O’Rourke programme being asked about abortion. I tweeted that he was outlining a view opposite to mine on abortion “but doing so in a reasoned, respectful way”.