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Irish Proposal Would Allow Abortions in Emergencies | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
DUBLIN — The Irish government proposed legislation late Tuesday night that, if approved as expected, would allow abortions in cases where a threat existed to a woman’s life, including from suicide. | |
Although the proposal has set off a heated debate, the prime minister, Enda Kenny, has argued that it would not alter Ireland’s restrictive abortion laws. | Although the proposal has set off a heated debate, the prime minister, Enda Kenny, has argued that it would not alter Ireland’s restrictive abortion laws. |
“This bill restates the general prohibition on abortion in Ireland,” Mr. Kenny said at a news conference on Wednesday before the Protection of Life During Pregnancy bill was introduced. “The law on abortion in Ireland is not being changed.” | |
His assurances did little to persuade the country’s powerful anti-abortion movement. The conservative Youth Defense group branded Mr. Kenny “The Abortion Taoiseach” — the Irish word for prime minister or leader — and vowed to step up its campaign to pressure members of his center-right Fine Gael party to oppose the bill. | His assurances did little to persuade the country’s powerful anti-abortion movement. The conservative Youth Defense group branded Mr. Kenny “The Abortion Taoiseach” — the Irish word for prime minister or leader — and vowed to step up its campaign to pressure members of his center-right Fine Gael party to oppose the bill. |
“Enda Kenny’s claim that this legislation is restrictive is seriously undermined by the experience of other countries, such as Britain, where mental health clauses were roundly abused,” said a spokeswoman for Youth Defense, Claire Molloy. | “Enda Kenny’s claim that this legislation is restrictive is seriously undermined by the experience of other countries, such as Britain, where mental health clauses were roundly abused,” said a spokeswoman for Youth Defense, Claire Molloy. |
While a substantial number of Fine Gael members have misgivings about the suicide clause, Mr. Kenny has ruled out a free vote on the bill, which Parliament is expected to enact before the summer recess. | While a substantial number of Fine Gael members have misgivings about the suicide clause, Mr. Kenny has ruled out a free vote on the bill, which Parliament is expected to enact before the summer recess. |
The proposed legislation would allow for the termination of a pregnancy in cases where there is a real and substantive threat to the life of the woman, including from suicide. The government says the bill gives legal effect to rights that already exist as a result of a landmark Supreme Court judgment in 1992, known as the X Case. | The proposed legislation would allow for the termination of a pregnancy in cases where there is a real and substantive threat to the life of the woman, including from suicide. The government says the bill gives legal effect to rights that already exist as a result of a landmark Supreme Court judgment in 1992, known as the X Case. |
Under the new proposals, a single doctor would be able to approve an abortion in an emergency situation. When a pregnant woman’s life is at risk but the threat is not imminent, two medical practitioners — including one obstetrician or gynecologist — would have to sign off before the procedure could take place. | Under the new proposals, a single doctor would be able to approve an abortion in an emergency situation. When a pregnant woman’s life is at risk but the threat is not imminent, two medical practitioners — including one obstetrician or gynecologist — would have to sign off before the procedure could take place. |
A woman citing the possibility of suicide as a reason for seeking an abortion would have to obtain approval from two psychiatrists and an obstetrician. | A woman citing the possibility of suicide as a reason for seeking an abortion would have to obtain approval from two psychiatrists and an obstetrician. |
The government was prodded to action by the Council of Europe, which has pressured a succession of Irish governments to enact legislation to ensure that women’s limited rights to abortion were actually carried out in practice. | |
Equally important, the uproar following the death of an Indian-born woman, Savita Halappanavar, in a Galway hospital in October reignited the entire abortion debate. Dr. Halappanavar, 31, a dentist who lived near Galway, was informed by her doctors that they were legally constrained from carrying out her repeated requests for a lifesaving termination of her nonviable fetus because the heart was still beating. | Equally important, the uproar following the death of an Indian-born woman, Savita Halappanavar, in a Galway hospital in October reignited the entire abortion debate. Dr. Halappanavar, 31, a dentist who lived near Galway, was informed by her doctors that they were legally constrained from carrying out her repeated requests for a lifesaving termination of her nonviable fetus because the heart was still beating. |
Irish commentators point out that the government may also have been emboldened by the waning influence of the Roman Catholic Church, which has been battered by a succession of sexual abuse cases against members of the clergy. | |
In a parliamentary debate after the release of the draft legislation, Clare Daly, a Socialist, said that the bill did not go far enough and that it would ensure that Irish women — 4,500 a year, by most estimates — would continue to travel every year to Britain for abortions. | In a parliamentary debate after the release of the draft legislation, Clare Daly, a Socialist, said that the bill did not go far enough and that it would ensure that Irish women — 4,500 a year, by most estimates — would continue to travel every year to Britain for abortions. |
Other commentators expressed disappointment that the proposals did not extend an automatic right to abortion under other categories, like rape or when a fetus has no chance of survival. At present, women who know their child will not survive outside the womb are forced to carry it to full term. | Other commentators expressed disappointment that the proposals did not extend an automatic right to abortion under other categories, like rape or when a fetus has no chance of survival. At present, women who know their child will not survive outside the womb are forced to carry it to full term. |
However, Mr. Kenny said any such proposals would be beyond the scope of the X Case and would require a referendum to change the Constitution. |