THE 20th anniversary of the “X” case was marked by a protest outside Leinster House yesterday demanding that the Government legislate for abortion in cases where a mother’s life is at risk.
While it is lawful for a woman to have an abortion if her life is at risk, following a Supreme Court ruling on the case, successive governments have not legislated for this.
Five women, members of the newly formed Action on X Alliance, appeared outside the gates of Leinster House yesterday morning, wearing masks of Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his four immediate predecessors: Brian Cowen, Bertie Ahern, John Bruton and Albert Reynolds.
The women dressed as Mr Cowen, Mr Ahern, Mr Bruton and Mr Reynolds held up a poster featuring a letter X, indicating that those taoisigh had led governments that had not legislated in the area.
The woman dressed as Mr Kenny held up a poster with a question mark on it.
“Will he be the one who finally grasps the nettle?
“It’s been 20 years, five governments, two referendums, countless expert groups. It’s time to take action,” said spokeswoman Sinéad Ahern.
“The anniversary presents a huge opportunity to put pressure on the Government to bring forward legislation.”
Anti-abortion groups insist the Government is under no obligation in this regard.
Labour Party Senator Ivana Bacik, writing in The Irish Times yesterday, called on the Government to “act swiftly to confront the reality of crisis pregnancy in Ireland, and legislate” once the expert group appointed by Minister for Health James Reilly has reported.
Mr Justice Seán Ryan of the High Court is chairing the expert group that will examine the options available to the Government on how to implement a European Court of Human Rights ruling on abortion.
In December 2010, the court found that the Irish State had failed to implement existing rights to a lawful abortion where a mother’s life is at risk.
The 14-member expert group consists of consultant obstetricians, general practitioners, legal experts and senior civil servants.
Appointed in the middle of last month, it was instructed to report back to the Government with a range of options within six months.
