Choice Ireland welcomes abortion poll results

Choice Ireland has welcomed a poll published in today’s Irish Times showing that a majority of women want legislation for abortion in Ireland.

Speaking before a meeting of Choice Ireland members and supporters in Dublin on Saturday, spokesperson Sinéad Ahern said:

“Choice Ireland has consistently maintained that abortion laws in this country are out of step with the feeling of the Irish people. Today’s poll is further evidence of that. It shows that 54% of Irish women believe the government should legislate for abortion, including majorities in almost every age group.

“This figure rises to 69% in cases where there is a threat to the woman’s life, including by suicide. The government’s ongoing refusal to act on these cases defies logic.”

Spokesperson Niav Keating added:

“Another telling statistic is that 42% of respondents say they personally know a woman who has had an abortion. Considering the secrecy and stigma that surrounds this decision, the likelihood is that well over half of us actually know someone who has done so. This demonstrates that the current law is ineffective in preventing abortions. It merely forces women to obtain them under the most difficult conditions.

“Women have spoken in this poll and it is clear that the days of ceding control of our bodies are over. Demand is growing for the right to make our own reproductive choices. The government and opposition parties must start listening and taking account of women’s views on this issue.”

Choice Ireland calls for regulation of crisis pregnancy counselling agencies.

Responding to the re-launch of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency's Positive Options advertising campaign, Choice Ireland has renewed its call for legislation to outlaw rogue crisis pregnancy counselling agencies.

Spokesperson Niav Keating said:

"Choice Ireland acknowledges the valuable work of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and supports the Positive Options campaign as an element in combating the deceitful and intimidating tactics of rogue agencies by promoting legitimate service providers. However, this campaign has
been running for five years and it is clearly not sufficient on its own to counteract the deceptive advertising tactics of these rogue agencies, which continue to operate with no fear of closure. Choice Ireland has highlighted one such agency in Dublin."

Commenting, spokesperson Sinead Ahern said:

"It is time for Minister Mary Harney to recognise that legislative action is needed. Choice Ireland is calling for regulation of all clinics providing crisis pregnancy counselling, with rogue agencies to be shut down and their operators subject to prosecution. The government should also extend the prohibition on false and misleading advertisement to services that do not require payment or profit, such as pregnancy counselling services. We have written to Minister Harney asking her to meet with us to discuss this matter further."

WRC Protest

Choice Ireland held a protest outside the "Women's Resource Centre" - rogue crisis pregnancy counselling agency - 50 Upper Dorset St., Dublin 1, last Saturday 18th August.


Link with more pictures from the protest: http://indymedia.ie/article/83840

Press Release: Saturday 18^th August 2007

Choice Ireland calls for regulation of crisis pregnancy counselling agencies.

As part of their ongoing campaign to highlight the issue of rogue crisis pregnancy counselling agencies, Choice Ireland has made a submission to the Law Reform Commission and will protest outside the Women's Resource Centre on Saturday, 18 ^th August 2007. Rogue crisis pregnancy counselling agencies advertise themselves as providers of legitimate pregnancy counselling services but they are known to use manipulative tactics, provide misleading information and intimidate women. The sole purpose of these agencies is to stop women from travelling outside the State to terminate a pregnancy.

Commenting Niav Keating said:

"Rogue crisis pregnancy agencies deliberately mislead women about the health risks associated with abortion. When Choice Ireland activists attended this agency, they were told that having an abortion would increase their risk of developing breast cancer, becoming an alcoholic and abusing children. These are blatant lies designed to scare vulnerable women in a crisis pregnancy situation".

Commenting Sinead Ahearn said:

"At present, counselling services in Ireland are not regulated which means that any individual or group can establish a counselling service and this is an outrageous situation. We are calling on the government to bring forward statutory regulation for all pregnancy counselling services, prescribing minimum codes of practices and standards, to ensure that they do not impart misleading and incorrect information".

Quotes end.

Pro-choice campaigners gather for Dublin rally

Irish Independent - Breaking News
Saturday June 30 2007

Pro-choice campaigners staged a rally in Dublin's city centre today calling for a range of reproductive rights for women, including abortion.

Over 120 thousand Irish women have travelled to the UK to terminate their pregancies since 1990.

A recent M-R-B-I poll found that more than half of people aged between 18 and 25 are favour of abortion on request.

"The rally today is about calling for all sorts of reproductive rights - mainly for the right of women to access abortion services in Ireland," said Sinead Ahern of Choice Ireland.

Photos from Dáil protest

Pro-choice groups call for new legislation on abortion

The Irish Times
Thursday 28th June 2007
Carl O'Brien

Pro-choice groups have called on the Government to legislate for abortion in Ireland in response to the large number of women who travel abroad to terminate their pregnancies.

Last year 5,042 women gave Irish addresses at abortion clinics in Britain, according to the UK's department of health.

In order to highlight those numbers, Choice Ireland yesterday displayed 20 suitcases and rucksacks outside Leinster House to signify the 20 women who leave Ireland each day for an abortion.

Sinead Ahearn, a spokeswoman for Choice Ireland, said the real numbers of women travelling abroad were much greater as official figures do not include those travelling to other countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and the US to terminate their pregnancies.

She pointed to a recent TNS/ mrbi poll, commissioned by the Irish Family Planning Agency, which indicated significant support for abortion in Ireland in certain circumstances. It found 43 per cent of people supported abortion if it was in a woman's "best interests", but the majority (51 per cent) remained opposed to it in this country.

Choice Ireland will hold a rally on Saturday at the Central Bank Plaza at 2pm as part of its ongoing campaign for abortion rights.

Fight For Women's Right to Choose!

Choice Ireland will hold a Pro Choice Rally at 2pm on Saturday 30th June at Central Bank Plaza, Dame St, Dublin 2. The theme of the rally is "Fight for Women's Right to Choose".

Confirmed Speakers include Sen. David Norris and Ivana Bacik.

Please pass on these details to anyone you think might come along.

Hope to see you there!


What do we want?

• Free Access to Accurate Information on All Crisis Pregnancy Options
• Legislation Regulating Information Provided by Crisis-Pregnancy Centres
• Immediate Legislation for the X and C Cases
• Proper Sex-Education
• Free Access to Multiple Forms of Contraception Including the Morning-After Pill
• Free and Legal Abortion on Demand
• High-Quality Post-Abortion Care
• End to Stigma Surrounding Abortion
• Practical Support for Women Seeking Abortion
• End to Stigma Surrounding Sexual Health and Contraceptive Needs
• Increased Support for Single and Low-Income Parents
• Increased Protection for Working Mothers
• Free Access to Quality Childcare
• End to Stigma Surrounding Single Parenthood
• Choice in the Method of Childbirth
• Creation of More Feminist Health Centres