Eight Amendment: Let’s debate the meaning of humanity

The question of the Eighth Amendment touches the most core value of a civilised society, the value we place on human life simply because it is human, rather than because it is strong or healthy or able-bodied or young or self-supporting or anything else, writes Margaret Hickey

A Red C poll, commissioned by Newstalk Radio, shows 76% of the Irish electorate agree with abortion in the case of fatal fetal abnormality and 78% in cases of rape and incest. A smaller majority of 59% support abortion where the woman is suicidal. This means there is less support for abortion on grounds already permitted in Irish law, suicide ideation, than on certain other grounds.

Despite high support for abortion in the specified hard cases, only 48% of respondents favour the repeal of the 8th Amendment.