Sir, - It is easy, in looking at arguments with which one disagrees, to be cynical or simplistic. Especially, it is easy, intentionally or unintentionally, to take the worst from such arguments, through superficial analysis, and through a wilful failure to understand the fundamental moral position underpinning them.
Having read a great number of the opinions and articles presented in respect of the abortion referendum, however, I found, provided that one approached such reading with an open mind and a degree of discernment, that no argument was absolutely devoid of merit, and all had the potential to be of real importance.
Accordingly, I would like to thank all the contributors from both sides of this very stimulating debate for furthering my understanding of an issue which, apart from its legal ramifications, is as morally complex as truth itself. - Yours, etc.,
Dr NEVILLE COX,
Ashford,
Co Wicklow.
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Sir, - The attempts by Bertie Ahern and others to dismiss the No vote because it contains an unknown number of those who followed Dana's advice is intellectually dishonest. You cannot simply add these people's votes to the Yes column and say a more extreme amendment would have succeeded. As Bertie Ahern knows better than anyone, he framed this amendment to maximise its chances of acceptance. Had he framed it to satisfy Dana's little band of supporters, he would have lost far more votes than he would have gained. - Yours, etc.,
TIM O'HALLORAN,
Ferndale Road,
Dublin 11.
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Sir, - In the light of the No-vote victory, I think we should return to the right-to-travel issue to give us guidance as to where to go now. There is a right to have an abortion 30 miles from Dublin, in Liverpool, but not to have one 150 miles down the road in Cork. Therefore we, the Irish people, support the right of a woman to make her own decision on abortion, provided the termination is carried out in England. This disgusting hypocrisy brings much shame on our country.
Would we insert into the Constitution a right to travel to UK orphanages and kill 7,000 children a year?. Of course not - that would be murder. Therefore all of us who support the right to travel do not view abortion as a plain simple case of murder. We think this is a complicated area and are happy to let the woman make the decision. In short, we overwhelmingly support a woman's right to travel, and therefore also her right to chose. Now let's provide all the support needed by a woman with a crisis pregnancy, but if in the end she decides on a termination let her have it here. - Yours, etc.,
IVAN ARCHER,
Boulaling,
Riverstick,
Co Cork.
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A chara, - Although the Government's proposal has been defeated, it must be remembered that there was a significant pro-life No vote. We know there was a 49.6 per cent Yes vote.So what percentage did the pro-life No campaign attract? It was certainly far in excess of the extra 0.4 per cent required for a Yes majority.
In these circumstances it would be a subversion of democracy if any future government were to legislate on the lines of the X case. Clearly what is now required is an unambiguous pro-life referendum which gives the people a genuine right to choose. - Yours, etc.,
B. Ó LOINGSIGH,
Wyattville Park,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
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A chara, - Given the Taoiseach's reaction to the result of the abortion referendum in saying, "As a democrat, I have to accept and respect the wishes of the people", does he now intend also to accept the wishes of the electorate as democratically expressed in the referendum on the Nice Treaty? - Is mise,
BREANDAN Ó MUIRTHILE,
Forster Park,
Salthill,
Galway.
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Sir, - The latest abortion referendum campaign has been marked by a welcome development. Although opinions of all shades are strongly held, there is, I believe, a greater tolerance of opposing views now than there was during the 1983 campaign. There is now widespread acceptance that, although the great majority of people in Ireland do not favour abortion, an absolute ban is not appropriate. And because of the complexity of the matter it may not be possible to devise an amendment to the Constitution that would be favoured by a majority of the electorate.
Therefore I propose the following: that we vote on the subject once more - this time to remove all reference to abortion from the Constitution. This would allow the introduction of realistic and responsible legislation that would more accurately reflect the wishes of the majority of the people.
When the dust from the recent campaign settles it may become clear that the grand adventure begun in 1983 was a mistake that wasted a great deal of energy and achieved nothing. If this is so, we must accept our mistake and put it behind us. - Yours, etc.,
COLIN JEPHSON,
Grange Park Crescent,
Waterford.