Leaders of Fine Gael and Labour were using scare tactics to avoid answering questions about their proposals for abortion, the Pro-Life Campaign said yesterday.
Members at their final press conference before the referendum called for a Yes vote. Dr Berry Kiely said they were concerned about aspects of the No campaign conducted by Labour and Fine Gael. "Over the last few days we have heard a number of claims from the opposition which we know, and they surely know, are false," she said.
It seemed their strategy for the last days of the campaign was to sow as many doubts as possible about the referendum even though doubts had been cleared up weeks ago in favour of the Government's proposal, she said.
The first scare tactic of the opposition was to suggest that the proposal put women's lives at risk. This was despite the overwhelming medical evidence showing the opposite to be the case, Dr Kiely said.
The latest claim that women would be prosecuted by the new law was also designed to engender unnecessary fears. "The reality is that the prosecuting policy for abortion is to pursue the abortionist and not vulnerable women. It has been so since the foundation of the State," she said..
The proposed amendment restored legal protection to the unborn child. It ensured pregnant women would continue to receive all necessary medical treatments. "It ensures that Ireland will remain one of the safest countries in the world in which to be pregnant," Dr Kiely said.
There was no basis for the claim made by Mr Michael Noonan and Labour that legislation for abortion without a referendum could limit the effects of the X case decision, she said.