Should the 8th Amendment in Ireland be repealed?

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What is the 8th Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland?

The 8th Amendment is a law that grants equal rights to life to both a mother and her unborn child. Under this law, abortion in Ireland is subject to criminal penalty.

The Abortion Referendum, 25th of May 2018

The referendum on the 8th Amendment will take place in Ireland on Friday, the 25th of May 2018. Voters will have a choice between voting 'Yes', being pro-abortion and its legalisation, and voting 'No', protecting the rights of unborn children and keeping abortion illegal.

This referendum, without a doubt, has divided Ireland right down the middle. Numerous campaigns have been set up all around the country, with the intention of showing people why we should 'Repeal the 8th'. But what does this really mean for Ireland?

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What will voting 'Yes' do?

If the 8th Amendment gets repealed, women in Ireland will have the right to get an abortion for any reason up until the 12th week of pregnancy.

Reasons why people think it should be repealed:

1. Girls and women impregnated as a result of rape are not entitled to an abortion.
2. An estimated number of 10 girls & women are forced to leave Ireland every single day to get an abortion elsewhere.
3. The X case - You can read more about it here.
4. It makes the usage of abortion pills a criminal offence.
5. It discriminates against women who cannot travel to undergo an abortion due to family, legal status, financial, or health reasons.
6. Women have died in the past after being refused abortions which could have saved their lives.
7. Women feel that it doesn't value their life and health, denying them of choice of what they want to do with their body.

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What will voting 'No' do?

This would mean that the law concerning abortion in Ireland would not be changed. Any new laws passed after this would only allow for abortion to be legal in circumstances where the life of the pregnant woman is in real danger.

Reasons why people think we should save the 8th:

1. It saves lives of unborn children.
2. A baby's heart beats just 22 days after conception.
3. Ireland have a great safety record.
4. In the UK, where abortion is legal, over 90% of babies that are diagnosed with Down Syndrome are aborted.
5. 1 in 5 pregnancies in the UK end in abortion.
6. By the 12th week, a baby already has a nervous system, is capable of yawning, swallowing and kicking, and just after 4 weeks, its facial features are already beginning to form.
7. Abortion causes psychological harm to the mother, leading to depression and even suicidal thoughts in the worst cases.

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The latest polls state that:

44% of the population will vote 'Yes'.
32% will vote 'No'.
17% are undecided.
5% will not vote.
2% refuse to answer.

Taking account only those who will vote on the day, there is a 58:42 percent ratio of 'Yes' voters to 'No' voters.

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What do you think? Should the 8th Amendment be repealed?

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Sources:

1. https://irishelectionliterature.com/2016/11/11/eight-reasons-to-protect-the-8th-amendment-leaflet-from-the-pro-life-campaign/
2. https://spunout.ie/news/article/referendum-on-the-8th-amendment-what-are-we-voting-on
3. https://www.abortionrightscampaign.ie/2015/06/05/8-reasons-to-repeal-the-8th-amendment/
4. https://loveboth.ie
5. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/irish-times-poll-yes-side-must-work-hard-to-retain-lead-1.3497886