NWCI calls on all politicians to support Clare Daly’s Bill on terminations for medical reasons

Published: Tuesday, February 10, 2015

The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) today issued its full support for Deputy Clare Daly’s Bill to allow for terminations in cases where there is a fatal foetal abnormality, and called on all TDs to support the Bill.

Orla O’Connor, Director of NWCI said,
“The courage of the women and the families who have come forward and discussed this heart breaking time in their life has highlighted a most pressing issue for women in Ireland today. The issue of legislation for terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities will not go away by the Government continuing to ignore it. We know that there are enough cases of Irish women travelling abroad after receiving a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality that a Liverpool hospital has made a provision for Irish women. These women are denied a full consultation with their doctors in Ireland and are forced to travel to another country to be treated.”

Orla O’Connor continued,
“For these women and their families, we must legislate for terminations for medical reasons now. 19 Labour TDs previously wrote to the Minister for Health asking that fatal foetal abnormalities be legislated for in the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, while Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has also spoken out on the need for this legislation. Passing the Bill at this stage will allow for much greater discussion about what is possible for these women, even within the confines of the appalling 8th Amendment.”

Orla O’Connor concluded,
“Our elected representatives must stop speaking out both sides of their mouth, saying on one hand that this hardship must not continue, while on the other hand saying that the women will have to wait until the next government. While this Bill will not help the majority of women who are forced to travel for abortions, it is an important first step. We call on all TDs to support these women, and to vote for the Bill.”