In response to my discussion leader presentation last Thursday, I have been extensively researching information about abortion in Ireland and many other topics brought up in the in-class discussion. Interestingly enough I found an article dated March 7, 2010 clarifying some of the confusion on whether or not abortion is legal in the country. The website stating this information was Human Rights Watch.org and it says, "Abortion was illegal in all circumstances in Ireland until 1992. At that point, following a referendum approved by the people, it was affirmed that abortion should be legal if a woman’s life is threatened by her pregnancy. The referendum also protected the right to travel abroad to obtain abortion services, and to obtain and provide information about such services."
Abortion, in the eyes of the Irish government is legal only if the woman's life is threatened by the pregnancy; although she cannot have an abortion in Ireland, the woman seeking abortion services has the right to travel abroad to get an abortion and the right to obtain information about these services. To me all I get from this "law" is that Ireland is not necessarily against babies being aborted but will not let it happen in their country which shows their lack of responsibility in this specific health issue. I do not understand how a country can stop people from receiving a medical procedure on their land when they are not completely against it. In my opinion, you should either make something 100% legal or 100% illegal, why have a law that contradicts itself? The lack of clarity in the actual law itself reflects somewhat negatively towards the country of Ireland and I think it that laws if anything should be concrete and concise otherwise the government is fully doing it's job of governing the people.
Link to article: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/03/05/ireland-update-abortion-laws
I completely agree with you, the whole issue is confusing. They're saying that it is legal only if they leave the country to do it, which I find contradicting as well. This issue is really interesting!
ReplyDeleteI also completely agree that this is a screwed up situation. This to me does not even sound like they are making a law, but simply telling women who want an abortion to leave the country. This is as u said, very confusing and it seems to me that Ireland does not welcome abortion even if they are not saying it outright.
ReplyDelete