Abortions won’t be reduced by legislation
This is based on old-style ‘abortion politics’ and recycles the outdated and inherently cynical argument that supporting the liberalisation of abortion law means you are per se in favour of abortion.
This discredited approach to dealing with crisis pregnancies has been rejected by the Irish people in successive referendums on abortion.
Mr Ó Maolruaidh is correct in stating that the IFPA regularly advocates its view on abortion. We argue that no constitutional or legislative provision has ever, or will ever, reduce the number of Irish abortions.
Since 1969, reducing the need for abortion through high-quality family planning services and information has been the cornerstone of the IFPA’s work.
The current lack of legislation on abortion in Ireland puts women’s health at risk as medics are unsure of the circumstances in which they can intervene to save the life or health of a woman.
The IFPA does not, has never, and will never suggest that the termination of pregnancy, or any other particular course of action, is the right or even the best thing to do in any individual case.
The IFPA’s provision of non-directive pregnancy counselling is entirely in conformity with the 1995 Information Act in that we provide women with a crisis pregnancy with all her options, including adoption, abortion and parenting.
As IFPA counsellors are fully qualified and trained, they remain neutral at all times as to the course of action to be chosen by their clients. In suggesting otherwise, Mr Ó Maolruaidh has caused grave offence to IFPA counsellors.
Mr Ó Maolruaidh is correct in stating that IFPA is an autonomous member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). It works to ensure that abortion worldwide is safe, legal and rare.
As I write there are countless women throughout the world who cannot carry their pregnancy to term.
For them, the time has passed to discuss contraceptive options. More than 80,000 women die every year in the developing world from unsafe abortion.
The fact is that this figure would be even higher if it wasn’t for the work of IPPF in promoting safe reproductive health services for women.
Niall Behan
Chief Executive
Irish Family Planning Association
60 Amiens Street
Dublin 1.
