Irish Parliament Divided On Legalizing Abortion

Northern Ireland is once again reviving debate over the issue of legalizing abortion, prompting fears among church leaders and conservative individuals.

Fine Gael Lawmakers is reportedly struggling to counter a ruling in 2010 by the European Court of Human Rights, which found Dublin officials of failing to place rules that would have enabled a woman to undergo abortion when her life was at risk during her pregnancy.

“I am not a legal expert, but I would be very much pro-life and in favor of the right to life of baby and mother,” said Fine Gael parliament member John O’Mahony.

O’Mahony is one of the 15 Fine Gael Lawmakers who announced their intention to vote against any proposal to legalize abortion. The Labor Party has been pushing for the legalization of abortion, causing a political rift between them and the Fine Gael members.

“This harks back to the 1980s for Ireland. The economy is improving only very slowly, and yet the government is tearing its hair out over abortion,” said Michael McNamara, a Labor member of Parliament who favors legislating to comply with the ruling issued by the European Court of Human Rights,” said Labor Party parliament member Michael McNamara.

McNamara said Ireland must comply with the ruling issued by the European Court of Human rights, allowing women to prolong their lives by undergoing abortion in certain circumstances.

“Ireland can’t be in the same camp as Russia, Turkey and Ukraine, who regularly do not comply with European judgments,” McNamara added.

Over the last decade, there are about 50,000 Irish women who traveled to Britain to undergo abortion.

“You feel like a criminal and that you are doing something really dodgy. It is absolutely shameful and cowardly that the politicians have failed to legislate for the X case. They are too willing to listen to the lunatic fringe,” said a woman who admitted to have abortion in Great Britain.

(2012-10-07/studentnewsie)