Choice Ireland

Listen to Choice Ireland's Stephanie Lord on NearFM discussing the government's response to the ABC case and the need for abortion legislation in Ireland.

Speaking in advance of today’s demonstration at noon at Leinster House, Choice Ireland spokesperson Stephanie Lord condemned the Government’s delay in establishing the Expert Group on Abortion and said it must introduce legislation to comply with the judgment handed down by the European Court of Human Rights in the ABC Case.

Stephanie Lord said:

Choice Ireland has described as “deeply disappointing” the Irish government’s response to UN recommendations on reproductive rights, published today in the Outcome Report on Ireland's Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

While the government accepted the recommendation to improve access and education relating to contraception, it rejected all recommendations on the subject of abortion.

Spokesperson Sinéad Ahern said:

Responding to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review of Ireland’s human rights record which took place in Geneva this morning, Choice Ireland spokesperson Sinéad Ahern said:

“Choice Ireland welcomes the recognition by many UN member states that Ireland’s abortion laws fail to protect women’s human rights.

On Saturday, 27th August, from 12noon to 1pm, Choice Ireland will hold its latest demonstration against the rogue crisis pregnancy agency, the WRC, at 50 Upper Dorset Street, Dublin 1.

Commenting on a new report showing that 33% of women with very young children viewed their pregnancies as crisis pregnancies, spokesperson Sinéad Ahern described it as a “sad finding” which demonstrates the need for increased supports for women before, during and after pregnancy.

Ahern said:

Choice Ireland have today expressed disappointment in the failure of the Fine Gael-Labour Party Programme for Government to include a promise to legislate for the ABC decision. The document says only that an "expert group" will be established to address the issue.

Commenting, spokesperson Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh said:

"It is disappointing that the Programme for Government contains no promise to legislate for the judgment by the European Court of Human Rights with regard to life-saving abortions. This was a campaign pledge in the Labour manifesto.

Choice Ireland has today welcomed the decision by the European Court of Human Rights to declare Ireland in violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Court unanimously held that the lack of any legislative or regulatory scheme in Ireland by which a woman could establish whether she is entitled to a lifesaving abortion violates Ireland’s obligation to ensure respect for her private life.