Sir, - I think the sooner we have a referendum on the abortion issue the better as for too long now the issue has been allowed drag on and cause controversy in Ireland.
That's why I think the arrival of the Woman On Waves in Irish waters will be only a healthy thing as it will at last force the hand of politicians who for too long now have shirked the issue of a referendum and turned abortion into a taboo subject.
So the public debate caused by the ship's arrival will be a healthy thing, as it will unite both pro-life and pro-choice activists into a call for a referendum, which ultimately is the only way of clearing up the ambiguity and legal confusion on this issue.
The Supreme Court's decision on the X case has created a loophole in the law for abortions to take place in special circumstances, but now it is time for the people to make there minds up on the issue and not just leave it in the hands of the judiciary or the politicians. As such Bertie Ahern in May 1997 gave a written agreement to deal with the abortion issue, however, it is now June 2001 and we still have no answers. So I make a call for a referendum on this issue in the autumn, which would be the perfect time before a General Election next year.
In the article by Dr Muiris Houston (June 14th), we hear how the Medical Council is making decisions about the abortion issue without consulting the medical profession never mind the general public. So we have seen how the politicians, judiciary and the medical profession have monopolised thought on this issue for many years and I feel it's about time the general public had its voice heard and finally then we can put this matter to rest. - Yours, etc.,
Richard Dunne, Finglas South, Dublin 11.