The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) today announced plans to initiate public debate on the lack of legal clarity on abortion in the Republic, and hopes it will culminate in another referendum.
Launching the findings of a poll on Irish attitudes to abortion and embryonic research, the PLC said the time is right for "respectful" and "calm" debate.
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin today, spokeswoman Dr Berry Kiely said the situation remains "precarious and unresolved" due to the defeat of the 2002 referendum.
The 2002 referendum sought to roll back on the 1992 Supreme Court decision which allows termination when the threat of suicide poses a "real and substantial risk" to the life of the mother.
"In the absence of a referendum to put things right, legislation on foot of the X Case decision would have to allow induced abortion," Dr Kiely said.
She said the poll findings show "wide public support for legal remedies to restore protection to the unborn child and enshrine new protection against deliberate destruction of human embryos."
The PLC-commissioned poll was conducted by Millward Brown/IMS in February this year. Over 1,000 adults were questioned in 60 locations throughout the Republic.
To the question: "If the Government were to propose a constitutional amendment to prohibit abortion but allow the continuation of the existing practice of intervention to save a mother's life, in accordance with Irish medical ethics, would you support such an amendment in a Referendum or not?": The results showed that 53 per cent would support such an amendment, 15 per cent would oppose it, and 30 per cent were undecided or had no opinion.
To the question: "Currently, experimentation involving the destruction of human embryos does not take place in Ireland. Do you think the Dáil should enshrine the protection of the human embryo in law, or not?": The results found that 48 per cent would support legal protection, 14 per cent were opposed to it, and 39 per cent were undecided or had no opinion.
Also addressing the press conference today was Prof William Binchy who said he believes the time is now right to renew discussion. "The issue has already been reopened in the UK and US where abortion is available on demand."
"The status quo here is at variance with the law. The unborn child is protected by medical ethics and medical practice on the ground - the law as articulated is there but it hasn't been activated yet," he said.