Ireland votes to bring it in line with Europe in the abortion issue

The Republic of Ireland voted in a referendum yesterday to see if it would reform the abortion law of 2013, one of the most restrictive in Europe. The electorate had to decide if it would remove the “Eighth Amendment” from the Constitution by which a referendum in 1983 promoted by the Catholic Church equated the right to life of the embryo with that of the mother.

The referendum, convened by the government of the Christian-democrat Fine Gael party aims to soften the law and 3.2 million citizens were called to vote. The most recent opinion poll showed that 58% favoured changing the law with 42% against. The recount begins this morning and the result will be known this afternoon.

Ireland is one of four European countries that prohibit abortion along with Malta, Andorra and the Vatican. If the yes option wins then abortion will be allowed during the first 12 weeks and between 12 and 24 weeks in exceptional circumstances. At present it is only permitted if the mother’s life is endangered. The consultation has provoked intense debate with the Catholic Church as the main opponents of reform with a very aggressive campaign. The yes campaign has emphasised the anomaly of the Irish situation inside a modern Europe The UN had previously condemned the Irish law.