Abortion laws - Times have not changed that much

Hardly is the ink dry on the Government’s decision to introduce legislation to give effect to the Supreme Court’s ruling in the X Case, than the deep fissures that divided Irish society on the question of abortion in the past are re-emerging with all the bitterness and rancour.

It is a depressing reminder that in this country certain views are not merely rigidly held but are set in concrete. An indication of what to expect in the coming months, it proves beyond a shadow of doubt that the acrimony surrounding this vexed topic has not dissipated one whit.

No sooner had the Catholic hierarchy fired a first volley against the move than Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte replied with a salvo from the Coalition bunker. “Taken aback” by the vigour of the language used in early interventions by the bishops, he said he was especially surprised as the wording of legislation had not yet been published.

In their joint statement, the four Catholic archbishops called for a free vote by TDs, urged their flock to pray that public representatives would have the wisdom to do “what is right”, and said TDs “must consider the profound moral questions that arise”.

In response, the minister said he was not sure how they could make “that kind of strident intervention” without seeing the legislation.

He might also have been reacting to comments by Bishop Leo O’Reilly of Kilmore who described the move as the “first step on the road to a culture of death”. Quoting no less an authority than the pope, it is not the kind of remark calculated to moderate attitudes in times of angry debate.

If anything, such comments will deepen the rift between those for and against abortion in Ireland. By proposing a mix of legislation and regulation, the Government is intent on delivering limited abortion in line with the 1992 Supreme Court judgment that a real and substantial threat to the life of the mother should be taken into account.

However, in Bishop Reilly’s eyes, this will pave the way for abortion of “the most liberal kind”.

The scene is now set for a full-scale onslaught on TDs and senators by anti-abortion groups which strongly criticise the Government initiative. At the same time, pro-choice groups have welcomed the announcement but want the Coalition to commit to a timeframe for the introduction of legislation.

Down the years, tens of thousands of Irish women have gone to Britain to have an abortion. Last year that path was taken by some 4,000 women in this country. On the face of it, the limited form of abortion now considered will not change that scenario.

Following the shocking death of Praveen Halappanavar, who said she was repeatedly refused a termination, Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to be praised for having the political courage to grasp this nettle. While ruling out a free vote, by addressing the thorny issue of suicide troubling several Fine Gael TDs, he has moved to reassure them by stressing that he has “no intention of this being seen as some sort of abortion on demand or abortion replacing contraception”.

At the end of the day, the crucial factor must be to give the medical profession legal clarity because, as one gynaecologist succinctly put it, saving women’s lives is what this is all about.