Majority of Connacht/Ulster voters support current medical practice and continuation of legal protection for unborn babies.

A recent opinion poll carried out by Millward Brown for the Pro Life Campaign shows a high level of support in Connacht/Ulster for the protection of current medical practice, and constitutional protection for the unborn.

The Pro Life Campaign commissioned Millward Brown to carry out opinion poll research on various pro-life issues including attitudes to current medical practice in relation to the treatment of women in pregnancy. The findings show a high level of support for current medical practice in Ireland.

To the question, “In current medical practice in Ireland, the doctor treats the expectant mother and her baby as two patients and does his/her best to safeguard both in a crisis situation. Do you consider that this practice should be protected and safeguarded by law or not?” In Connacht/Ulster, 78% of respondents who expressed an opinion answered YES to this question.

In relation to the question “Are you in favour of, or opposed to constitutional protection for the unborn that prohibits abortion but allows the continuation of the existing practice of intervention to save a mother's life in accordance with Irish medical ethics?” In Connacht/Ulster 74% of respondents who expressed an opinion answered YES.

Following the launch of the results of the opinion poll on 21st February, Caroline Simons, Legal Consultant to the Pro Life Campaign, made the following remarks:

What marks these findings out from other research is the way important ethical distinctions are clarified for the benefit of respondents.

A number of polls published recently citing support for abortion used the word “abortion” in the question without defining just what it meant. These questions could only lead to uninformed answers. Polls using lists of emotive circumstances also tend to distort results.

In the Millward Brown polls published today an attempt was made to differentiate between life-saving medical interventions in pregnancy and induced abortion (where the sole aim is to terminate the pregnancy). It is clear from the results that a sizeable majority supports legal protection for the unborn child, while ensuring that women receive all necessary medical treatments when pregnant.

The findings published today challenge the notion that there is broad middle ground support for abortion in Ireland.

Separate from the survey results, but very relevant to the debate on abortion, I would like to make the following comments:

• As the latest World Health Organisation report on Trends in Maternal Mortality shows, out of 171 countries, Ireland is consistently in the top five in safety for women in pregnancy over the past 25 years. This is a remarkable statistic showing Ireland to be a world leader in maternal healthcare and safer for women in pregnancy than places like Britain and the US, where abortion is available on demand.
• Rather than introducing an abortion regime that blurs crucial ethical distinctions, the Government should set about reassuring the public on Ireland's outstanding record of care in protecting women during pregnancy.
• The European Court of Human Rights judgement in A, B and C v. Ireland does not oblige the Government to introduce abortion legislation. Instead, Guidelines could be drawn up in consultation with the appropriate bodies of expertise within the medical profession based on best medical practice, addressing the requirement of clarity for women in pregnancy.
• Any legislation based on the X case would mean that for the first time members of the Oireachtas would be sanctioning the taking of innocent human life. Once that principle is conceded, there is no going back. Not only would legislation based on the X case put the right to life of the unborn at risk, it would also potentially put women's lives at risk based on the independent expert evidence presented to the recent Oireachtas hearings. This evidence highlighted the link between induced abortion and adverse mental health consequences for women. If we are genuinely concerned about women's health, the Government simply cannot ignore this peer-reviewed evidence.

Click here for a link to the full opinion poll results, available for download. 


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Letter from Galway For Life member in today's Independent

Mary O'Byrne of Galway For Life responds to Senator Ivana Bacik's claims in an article in the Independent that women's lives are being put at risk in Ireland because of our pro-life laws.

I refer to the article by Ivana Bacik entitled "For 21 years women's lives have been put at risk –it has to stop" (Irish Independent, February 14). On the contrary, for over a century, women's and babies' lives have been protected in Ireland – this must continue.
Ireland's legal ban on abortion has never prevented medical professionals from treating a pregnant woman whose life is in danger, even if this treatment has the consequence of ending the life of the baby.
However, there is a huge difference between medical treatment to save the life of a mother and induced abortion.
The difference between what currently happens in Irish obstetric practice and an abortion regime is that a duty of care exists, where doctors provide essential treatment to preserve the life of the mother, but also do whatever is practicable to preserve the life of the baby.
What is needed now from the Government is not X-case legislation, but clear guidelines which affirm the two-patient care model, which looks after and protects the mother but also includes values and seeks to protect the life of the unborn child.
Mary O'Byrne 

Galway For Life St Augustine Street, Galway

Vigil For Life 2012

Thousands of people from all over the country converged on the streets outside Leinster House in a hastily organized vigil to show politicians that there are many people in Ireland that want our laws that protect the equal right to life of mother and child to remain in place.
After the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar last October there was tremendous pressure to change Irish law to allow for abortion. The tragedy, which happened here in our own city, became the focus of international attention. The appropriate thing at this stage is to wait until the investigation is over before we can say with authority what happened but it is equally clear that before the story became known to the public that pro-abortion choice advocates were ready to use it to attack Ireland's laws that guarantee the equal right to life of mother and unborn baby. The "spontaneous" protests outside the Dáil that called for the liberalization of the law weren't spontaneous after all. 
The vigil for Life was organized with about a week's notice and brought at a minimum of 5,000 to the protest. Other estimates were given of up to twice that. The 5,000 figure was given by the Irish Times but considering the fact that the same paper gave in to pressure to revise upwards the numbers at a pro-abortion march several months back their figures must be taken with caution. No doubt several more thousands were there according to their own standards. 

 Galway flag outside the Dáil at the Vigil for Life

At least two buses from Galway went to the vigil which exceeded all expectations.  There was no trouble from pro-abortion activists despite some threats that were noted on social networking websites earlier in the week. The weather was very good, though earlier in the week it was cold and damp there was no rain on the day and the mood was good thorough. Some singing broke out in different pockets as the assembled crowd waited for the vigil to start. Many people held candles while others held placards calling on politicians to value mother and child equally and asking the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny to keep the promise he made before the general election last year that Fine Gael in government would not legislate for abortion. 

 A section of the crowd with candles and placards.

The festive spirit that could be felt was lifted by the speakers. Caroline Simons, legal consultant to the Pro-Life Campaign told the crowd that despite the impression that was given Ireland is under no obligation by the European Court of Human Rights to legislate for abortion:

All we are supposed to do is clarify our own position in relation to abortion here…We have one of the best maternal mortality rates in the world so abortion is never the answer. It is not going to save mothers lives and we don’t want to see it on our shores.

 Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute told the vigil that "we need to ensure that both our mothers and babies are best protected by banning abortion." She also called on Enda Kenny to keep the promise he made before the general election.
Dr Sean O’Domhnaill of the Life Institute was abother speaker as was Cliona Johnson who told her moving story of her John Paul, her son, who was born with anencephaly and died shortly after birth. 
The vigil lasted only about an hour but people were in good spirits and made sure their voices were heard, they shouted in the direction of the Dáil that they did not want abortion, that Ireland without abortion treats pregnant women and that it is a safe country for them. 
The vigil was a great success, bringing people from all corners of the country on a dark December evening, keeping their spirits up and delivering the message that there are many who will continue to speak up for those who have no voice of their own.   

Pro Life Campaign says Red C abortion Poll ‘highly contradictory’ but welcomes support for constitutional amendment limiting X case

News Release

1st December 2012

Pro Life Campaign says Red C abortion Poll ‘highly contradictory’ but welcomes support for constitutional amendment limiting X case

Responding to the Red C poll on abortion to be published in tomorrow’s Sunday Business Post, the Pro Life Campaign said the answers to the different questions are highly contradictory, and show the very high level of public confusion on the issue mainly to do with the distinction between necessary medical interventions in pregnancy and abortion. The poll reveals that 85% support legislation for the X case, while 63% support a Constitutional amendment limiting the X ruling.

Dr Ruth Cullen of the Pro Life Campaign said:

“We welcome the high level of support for a Constitutional amendment to limit the X case. It is very apparent, however, from the findings overall, that there is huge confusion about the distinction between necessary medical treatments in pregnancy and abortion.

“The Minister for Health and other senior figures in Government bear much of the responsibility for this confusion. For example, they have abjectly failed to highlight the fact that abortion has never been shown to benefit women with mental health problems, indeed on the contrary, peer-reviewed studies show it places some women at greater risk. Given the misunderstandings that have been allowed to fester, it is not at all surprising that the findings appear so contradictory.

“In the coming weeks, as the debate continues, we are confident it will become clear that legislation for the X case would not in fact be restrictive but would involve wide-ranging abortion.”

See this and more on Pro Life Campaign website www.prolifecampaign.ie

Get yourself to the Unite For Life Pro-Life vigil on Tuesday!

Unite for Life pro-life Vigil – 4th December 2012

None of us needs to be reminded about the critical times we are in.

A Unite for Life pro-life Vigil will be held on Tuesday 4th December at 4.30pm outside Dáil Éireann.

We are asking everyone who considers themselves pro-life to come together to stand up for the lives of mothers and babies. 

Please make every effort to attend.

It will most likely be the only opportunity we get to send a united message to the Government before abortion legislation is debated in the Dáil

The vigil will have a positive, clear message about safeguarding the lives of mothers and babies in pregnancy.

Posters will be provided on the day.

Please spread the word to family, friends and anyone you know.

For more details and bus information contact: Claire 0872668702 or Katie 0877020255.

See you @ 4.30pm sharp on Tues 4th!

There are two things every pro-lifer needs to do today

(i) Sign an e-card that reaches YOUR politicians instantly and registers your opposition to abortion in Ireland

(ii) Register for our National Seminar 2012 to get clear information on the current real and imminent threat of abortion in Irish hospitals.

The Pro Life Campaign is not in the habit of sending alarmist emails but we cannot stress to our supporters how critical a time we are at right now and how near we are to abortion being carried out in Irish hospitals.  

This is despite the fact that;

(i) The majority of Irish people are opposed to abortion and in favour of mothers receiving all necessary medical treatments in pregnancy.

(ii) The European Court decision in ABC -v- Ireland does not oblige Ireland to legislate for abortion

(iii) Ireland, without abortion, is the safest place in the world for pregnant women and women receive all necessary treatments in pregnancy even if the unborn child's life is lost as a result.

(iv) Fine Gael made a clear pro-life pledge before the last election that they would uphold the right to life of unborn children

If you haven't already, please take five minutes to do the following this morning;

• Register instantly for our Seminar next Saturday here
• Send an instant e-card to your politicians here

Please encourage family and friends to do likewise. Thank you!

Invitation to Pro Life Campaign National Seminar 2012

We are at a critical time now with significant pressure from elements within the Government to introduce abortion. Join us on Saturday, 22nd September from 11.30 - 2pm to hear top-class speakers promote the pro-life message and engage and activate pro-life advocates all over Ireland. 

This event presents a great opportunity for pro-life people to meet, get motivated and get active.  Speakers include Matt Mooney, father of Eliot Hartman Mooney of 99 Balloons YouTube fame, Professor William Binchy, Professor Patricia Casey, Dr. Berry Kiely, Caroline Simons and others.

Get more information and register instantly here