Sir, – Twenty-one years ago, the High Court issued a permanent injunction, which barred a 14-year-old, known only as X, from leaving the country to terminate her pregnancy, the result of rape. Two weeks later the Supreme Court ruled that when a woman’s life is in danger due to pregnancy, including from suicide, she has the right to an abortion here in Ireland. Two decades later, despite the death of Savita Halappanavar, we are still waiting for this legislation.
There must be no more delays. We, the undersigned, call on the Government to legislate for the X case by the summer. Legislation must include: 1. The risk of suicide as grounds for abortion. 2. The opinion of no more than two medical practitioners to approve an abortion. 3. State-wide access. 4. Provision for abortion if a foetus has a fatal abnormality and cannot survive.
Opinion polls, including the most recent from this newspaper, consistently show that most people in Ireland support X legislation.
The Dáil must act for the majority – not defer to the minority.
One hundred and one individuals and civic society organisations have signed up to this statement. – Yours, etc,