Letters to the Editor: Reluctance to change abortion laws is nothing new

The 2018 repeal referendum resulted in a 66.4% 'yes' vote. Picture: Keith Heneghan

So Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin are “reluctant” to change Ireland’s abortion laws? Well, nothing new there. Both men (and both parties they lead) were “reluctant” to tackle the Eighth Amendment at all, happy instead for thousands of Irish people to be forced abroad for reproductive healthcare. 

It wasn’t until herculean work by abortion rights campaigners showed both men that the public fully supported liberalising reproductive rights that they — reluctantly — got on board (though they made enthusiastic use of the photo opportunities repeal afforded).