Madam, - The Sandbaek report does not recommend that "the EU provide millions of taxpayers money to promote abortion in poor countries", as stated by Father Tom Ingoldsby (February 27th).
The report allows the EU to provide money for the provision of safe and reliable methods of family planning for the poorest and most vulnerable women in the world, following President Bush's decision to veto the provision of €34 million dollars allotted by the US Congress to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
So many American citizens were enraged by his decision that UNFPA has already received nearly $1 million dollars in private donations.
Abortion is illegal, except to save the life of the mother, in most developing countries but illegal abortion is causing the death of hundreds of thousands of women everywhere. Some of these women can be saved with treatment by antibiotics and surgical intervention if necessary. Many of these women would not have abortions if undesired pregnancies did not occur in the first place. Many of these women and girls live in countries where women have little choice as to whether they will or will not have sexual intercourse.
Mary Banotti and those other MEPs who voted for the report supported the Irish Government's position on this issue.
Maternal mortality figures in some developing countries are improving, but issues such as illegal abortion, pregnancy at too early an age, lack of medical attention during pregnancy and labour, and lack of information and contraceptive supplies must be addressed. These are the concerns of Ulla Sandbaek MEP and those of us who support her efforts.
The death of a mother in many developing countries means that the right to life of her children under five is greatly reduced. These are the people who will be protected by the Sandbaek Report. - Yours, etc.,
Senator MARY HENRY MD, Seanad Éireann, Dublin 2.