Sir, – Dr Robin Wilson (August 28th) seems to think that only people of a “Christian disposition” believe that life starts at conception. Seeing as his views on abortion seem to be partly informed by his gripe with religion, can I assure him that many non-believers, of which I’m one, also subscribe to this terribly unsophisticated world view of life? – Yours, etc,
Sir, — The expressed reluctance on the part of particular TDs to legislate for abortion appears to illustrate a particular shortcoming of democratic systems, namely representatives’ desire to make popular decisions as opposed to the correct decisions (“FG TDs say they will oppose law to allow abortion”, Home News, August 28th). It would be excessively cynical to say that they are opposed to legislating simply to pander to their constituents’ convictions, but I imagine most TDs consider, in a calculated fashion, how their constituents will perceive any decision made by them. I also imagine that these calculations inform the decision-making process itself. If this is indeed the case, perhaps a novel solution lies within our Constitution.
Article 27 has never been used since the Irish people enacted Bunreacht na hÉireann. It essentially allows a Bill to be put to the people for a national vote. The procedure is as follows: the Bill is passed through the Dáil and the Seanad, a majority of the Seanad and not less than one-third of the Dáil then make a joint petition to the President to not sign and promulgate the law by virtue of the fact “that the Bill contains a proposal of such national importance that the will of the people thereon ought to be ascertained” and then the President determines if, in fact, the Bill is of such importance that the will of the people ought to be ascertained.
Accordingly, perhaps the Dáil and Seanad could make an antecedent agreement to petition the President under this procedure and then, with this contingency formally agreed, pass the Bill through both Houses.
Undoubtedly this Bill would be regarded as one of national importance and, as such, the people could decide whether the legislation is enacted or not. The intransigent TDs could thereby conveniently abdicate their legislative responsibility to women entitled to abortions and transfer it to the people of Ireland. If the legislation is passed, then their electoral reputation will not be as damaged as if they directly legislated for it; they can simply blame any constituency that voted for it. If the legislation is rejected, then the status quo remains.
If the Oireachtas can’t decide this issue for whatever reason, why not allow them to permissibly pass the buck to the people of Ireland? – Yours, etc,