Repeal activists would lose referendum

A battle over the Eighth will make other referendum campaigns look like a Daniel O’Donnell tea party, writes Michael Clifford

IF A referendum to repeal the Eighth amendment were to take place tomorrow it would fail. If it were to take place in three or even six months time it would also fail. Of that there should be little doubt.

One might not think so from perusing social media, or tapping into what is undoubtedly a major shift in attitudes towards abortion in recent years. The winds of change are blowing across this State, but not at the rate of knots that some believe. When it comes to an issue as primal as abortion, middle Ireland needs to be coaxed into change, and history suggests that there’s a way to go yet.