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Irish Vote Landslide ‘Yes’ to Abortion
In an historic poll, citizens of the Republic of Ireland appear to have voted overwhelmingly in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment of the Irish Constitution which effectively banned abortion by limiting it to extreme medical circumstances not including fatal foetal abnormality. While the counting continues the 'No' vote opposition has effectively conceded defeat. Based on exit polls the ‘Yes’ vote may be as high as 68% compared to a ‘No’ vote of around 32%. The ‘Yes’ vote appears to have secured a majority in all age groups apart from the over 65s.
Under the new rules, termination will be allowed up to the 12th week (certified by a Doctor) subject to the mother observing a 72-hour cooling off period. Termination beyond 12 weeks is only lawful where two Doctors certify that the foetus has not reached viability; that continuing the pregnancy poses a serious risk to the woman, and that termination is necessary to avert the risk.
The vote follows an intense campaign where both ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ camps encouraged expatriate Irish to come home to vote.
The abortion ‘Yes’ vote is seen as another sign of the waning influence of the Catholic Church in Ireland. This vote follows on from media reports of child abuse in Catholic institutions starting in the 1990s and culminating in the findings of the 9-year long Ryan Commission, published in 2009, detailing endemic child abuse by Catholic clergy and institutions. More recently, in 2015, Ireland also voted overwhelmingly (62% ‘Yes’ to 38% ‘No’) in favour of Same Sex Marriage. In June 2017 Ireland elected Leo Varadkar as its first, same sex partnered and openly gay, Prime Minister.
Sources:
The Irish Times:
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/what-would-replace-the-eighth-amendment-the-text-the-law-the-politics-1.3505902
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/marriage-referendum
ABC News:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-14/what-can-australia-learn-from-irelands-own-commission-of-inquiry/9250596
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_sexual_abuse_scandal_in_Ireland
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2018/may/26/irish-abortion-referendum-result-count-begins-live
In an historic poll, citizens of the Republic of Ireland appear to have voted overwhelmingly in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment of the Irish Constitution which effectively banned abortion by limiting it to extreme medical circumstances not including fatal foetal abnormality. While the counting continues the 'No' vote opposition has effectively conceded defeat. Based on exit polls the ‘Yes’ vote may be as high as 68% compared to a ‘No’ vote of around 32%. The ‘Yes’ vote appears to have secured a majority in all age groups apart from the over 65s.
Under the new rules, termination will be allowed up to the 12th week (certified by a Doctor) subject to the mother observing a 72-hour cooling off period. Termination beyond 12 weeks is only lawful where two Doctors certify that the foetus has not reached viability; that continuing the pregnancy poses a serious risk to the woman, and that termination is necessary to avert the risk.
The vote follows an intense campaign where both ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ camps encouraged expatriate Irish to come home to vote.
The abortion ‘Yes’ vote is seen as another sign of the waning influence of the Catholic Church in Ireland. This vote follows on from media reports of child abuse in Catholic institutions starting in the 1990s and culminating in the findings of the 9-year long Ryan Commission, published in 2009, detailing endemic child abuse by Catholic clergy and institutions. More recently, in 2015, Ireland also voted overwhelmingly (62% ‘Yes’ to 38% ‘No’) in favour of Same Sex Marriage. In June 2017 Ireland elected Leo Varadkar as its first, same sex partnered and openly gay, Prime Minister.
Sources:
The Irish Times:
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/what-would-replace-the-eighth-amendment-the-text-the-law-the-politics-1.3505902
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/marriage-referendum
ABC News:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-14/what-can-australia-learn-from-irelands-own-commission-of-inquiry/9250596
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_sexual_abuse_scandal_in_Ireland
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2018/may/26/irish-abortion-referendum-result-count-begins-live
