Should abortion be made legal in Ireland

[hanny08]

Quite a number of years ago now there was vote held in Ireland about making abortion legal, the majority of the public voted no. In recent years though a nuber of statistics have been put out there about the number of young Irish girls and women who were going to England and The Netherlands in order to have abortions. One particular article I remember reading stated that on average 13 women A DAY were going to these countries to have one done. In light of this do you think it time for it to be made legal here. Whether or not the government and some of the people disagree with it is not the issue, the fact of the matter is that it is a reality in Irish society, even if the girls have to travel outside the country to do it.

[Tom]

Yes. Although I'm strongly against it I'd rather people who did have one had a safe one rather than one that can cause serious harm.

[Princess]

I'm in two minds about it. I think it should be the woman's choice whether or not to have an abortion but a lot of the time they regret it. Having the extra hassle of having to go abroad might make someone think it over rather than rushing into it. If a woman is that determined to get an abortion they would go abroad.

[Markymark]

The thing is if girls know that abortions are readily available they might be more likely to have unprotected sex, then maybe Ireland's teenage pregnancy rate will match that of the UK. Is it legal to have one in Éire if you are raped?

[Tom]

Originally posted by Markymark
The thing is if girls know that abortions are readily available they might be more likely to have unprotected sex, then maybe Ireland's teenage pregnancy rate will match that of the UK. Is it legal to have one in Éire if you are raped?

No idea, but I know even a lot of doctors in the UK refuse to do them despite it being legal.

[hanny08]

Originally posted by Markymark
The thing is if girls know that abortions are readily available they might be more likely to have unprotected sex, then maybe Ireland's teenage pregnancy rate will match that of the UK. Is it legal to have one in Éire if you are raped?

No as far as I have been able to determine its not legal under any circumstance. I'm not sure about a teenage girl thinking that though. When I was 15 and in school we were shown an abortion video(this was a catholic all girl school run by nuns btw). The video showed the whole process, obviously we didn't have to watch if we didin't want, but I can assure you that if other schools were doing this around the country at the time, it wouldn't be viewed as an easy option. but that was over ten years ago so they might not do that in schools any more.

[Markymark]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/AbortionLawsMap.png

Amazing that Ireland is arguably the richest country in the world, yet its abortion laws are the same as conservative Islamic states. I think it should be legal, but the age limit of the foetus should be low at about 12 weeks.

[Sunny_01]

I dont think any woman should be denied the right of choice. I think under 12 weeks is far to low as it is often just before that when women and girls find out for sure they are pregnant.

I think the laws in Ireland are way out of date with regards to things like this. Women should not feel ashamed about their choices. They should be able to make this decision in their own country.

[hanny08]

Originally posted by Sunny_01
I dont think any woman should be denied the right of choice. I think under 12 weeks is far to low as it is often just before that when women and girls find out for sure they are pregnant.

I think the laws in Ireland are way out of date with regards to things like this. Women should not feel ashamed about their choices. They should be able to make this decision in their own country.

I totally agree with you. I know someone who went to england to have one and she said the whole experience was just made 100 times worse with all the travelling. She flew over and back all in the one day and she wouldn't dare tell anyone in her family because she'd basically be outcast if she did.

[Sunny_01]

That is such a sad state of affairs. I really feel for these women. They have had to make a big enough decision to terminate a pregnancy because I know it is certainly not an easy one to make, then to compound matters they have to sneak off to another country :bored:

[hanny08]

Originally posted by Sunny_01
That is such a sad state of affairs. I really feel for these women. They have had to make a big enough decision to terminate a pregnancy because I know it is certainly not an easy one to make, then to compound matters they have to sneak off to another country :bored:

Exactly, thats why I feel it should be made legal, whether people like it or not it's going on. But sadly the majority of thr public think it's wrong without ever first putting them in the position of these girls. And personally I think thats the only way to come to an honest opinion.

[Markymark]

Originally posted by Sunny_01
I dont think any woman should be denied the right of choice. I think under 12 weeks is far to low as it is often just before that when women and girls find out for sure they are pregnant.

I think the laws in Ireland are way out of date with regards to things like this. Women should not feel ashamed about their choices. They should be able to make this decision in their own country.

89% of abortions already take place before 12 weeks. The menstural cycle takes 4 weeks and home pregnancy tests are effective from about 2 weeks so there's no need to be killing foetuses that have full-formed organs after 20 weeks, unless it is putting the woman's health at risk.

[Tom]

Originally posted by hanny08
Originally posted by Sunny_01
That is such a sad state of affairs. I really feel for these women. They have had to make a big enough decision to terminate a pregnancy because I know it is certainly not an easy one to make, then to compound matters they have to sneak off to another country :bored:

Exactly, thats why I feel it should be made legal, whether people like it or not it's going on. But sadly the majority of thr public think it's wrong without ever first putting them in the position of these girls. And personally I think thats the only way to come to an honest opinion.

My view on it is that I think abortion is wrong. I don't see it as killing an unborn baby, I see it as killing a person. Some babies have been born prematurely (just 5 months!) and have survived and grew up perfectly well, yet at this stage it is still legal to have an abortion! The problem for me is that its your fault its there, you should deal with the consequences. Yes, you may have taken precautions but everyone knows (or should know) that it isn't 100% effective and should still get ready for the possible outcome. You wouldn't be allowed to kill your brother or sister because they are an inconvenience, so I don't think you should be allowed to do the same with a child.

BUT, abortions always have happened and always will happen whether they are legal or not. In the past when abortion was illegal, women endangered their lives in order to have an abortion, sometimes making them infertile so they'll never get another chance or in some cases killing them so despite my opinions on it I do actually prefer it to be legal because its safer. I don't agree on the 24 week rule, and I'm not so keen on the idea of them being paid by tax payers either. But then some people wouldn't be able to afford it which brings us back to the point about street abortions.

Sometimes, relaxed rules on bigger problems lead to a decrease in them problems.

[letmein]

Originally posted by Markymark
The thing is if girls know that abortions are readily available they might be more likely to have unprotected sex, then maybe Ireland's teenage pregnancy rate will match that of the UK. Is it legal to have one in Éire if you are raped? That is one of the biggest myths around.

No one should tell any woman what to do with their body. Could you imagine if someone was raped, or incest occurred?

[NettoSuperstar!]

If you made abortion illegal people would attempt it themselves, backstreet abortions would be rife and it would be a total mare!

[NettoSuperstar!]

sorry read the question wrong, it is a mare already! Legalize it man!

[Ruth]

There are roughly the same amount of abortions in countries where abortion is illegal, as in countries where it is legal. It is just that in a country where it is illegal, there is more risk to the foetus and the woman.

I absolutely believe that it should be made legal.

[karezza]

The Roman Catholic cult has Eire under control - they will never permit abortion to be legalised.

[LargeAndInCharge]

i dnt think abortion should be aloud at all

[Benjamin]

This is a tricky one.

I agree with abortion if a woman has been raped and impregnated that way (that is not her fault) or they have been practicing safe sex and the condom splits and the morning after pill does not work.

But if people get pregant through stupidity and lack of being responsible then no. They should take more care.


But also I hate to see a child be brought into the world if it will not be loved, or will be resented or not properly looked after. So if a family knows they cannot support the child and love it, then yes they should have an abortion asap.

But I do think the lenght of time should be decreased as i think abortion should be in the first 8 weeks only.

[karezza]

Only women should decide whether abortion be legalised. The Roman Catholic Cult and the Eire Government should stay out of it.

[NettoSuperstar!]

Originally posted by LargeAndInCharge
i dont think abortion should be aloud at all

No it should be quiet SShhhh!

[Sunny_01]

I still think that rules like this remove a womans right of choice. When all is said and done it comes down to whether a woman feels able to or wants to continue with a pregnancy. Ok so many are silly with regards to contraception but why should they go on and have a baby they don't want. Do people think that they are all going to suddenly love this little cute baby that they never even wanted!

[Benjamin]

Originally posted by Sunny_01
I still think that rules like this remove a womans right of choice. When all is said and done it comes down to whether a woman feels able to or wants to continue with a pregnancy. Ok so many are silly with regards to contraception but why should they go on and have a baby they don't want. Do people think that they are all going to suddenly love this little cute baby that they never even wanted!


see my mind alters everytime on this topic. I agree with you a lot.


I do think that the time of abortion needs to be decreased though, people should know within the first 6/7 weeks if they want the child or not and terminate it before it develops too much.

Aaaaah this is one topic i struggle with.

[Ruth]

Originally posted by ukturtle
This is a tricky one.

I agree with abortion if a woman has been raped and impregnated that way (that is not her fault) or they have been practicing safe sex and the condom splits and the morning after pill does not work.

But if people get pregant through stupidity and lack of being responsible then no. They should take more care.


But also I hate to see a child be brought into the world if it will not be loved, or will be resented or not properly looked after. So if a family knows they cannot support the child and love it, then yes they should have an abortion asap.

But I do think the lenght of time should be decreased as i think abortion should be in the first 8 weeks only.

But how are you going to prove whether a woman got responsible by accident/rape or through being irresponsible? And why should a woman be forced to have a child she doesn't want, or is unable to look after?

Also 8 weeks is far too short a length of time. Women with irregular periods may not even know that they are pregnant by eight weeks. I can see an argument for decreasing the current limit, but eight weeks is nowhere near long enough.

Our care system is already stretched to bursting. Most children who are in care, have no chance of being adopted. I do not believe it is right or just to bring an unwanted child into this world. So adoption is very rarely the answer.

And as I said earlier, abortion rates are roughly the same in countries where abortion is illegal as those where it is legal. It is just that in countries where it is illegal, the operations performed are generally far more dangerous both to the woman and the foetus.

[Sunny_01]

Originally posted by ukturtle
Originally posted by Sunny_01
I still think that rules like this remove a womans right of choice. When all is said and done it comes down to whether a woman feels able to or wants to continue with a pregnancy. Ok so many are silly with regards to contraception but why should they go on and have a baby they don't want. Do people think that they are all going to suddenly love this little cute baby that they never even wanted!


see my mind alters everytime on this topic. I agree with you a lot.


I do think that the time of abortion needs to be decreased though, people should know within the first 6/7 weeks if they want the child or not and terminate it before it develops too much.

Aaaaah this is one topic i struggle with.

Do you know it is ok to struggle with this topic though. If you didnt I would be more worried. It isnt as if we are discussing what colour we should be allowed to colour our hair!!

[Ruth]

Originally posted by Sunny_01
Originally posted by ukturtle
Originally posted by Sunny_01
I still think that rules like this remove a womans right of choice. When all is said and done it comes down to whether a woman feels able to or wants to continue with a pregnancy. Ok so many are silly with regards to contraception but why should they go on and have a baby they don't want. Do people think that they are all going to suddenly love this little cute baby that they never even wanted!


see my mind alters everytime on this topic. I agree with you a lot.


I do think that the time of abortion needs to be decreased though, people should know within the first 6/7 weeks if they want the child or not and terminate it before it develops too much.

Aaaaah this is one topic i struggle with.

Do you know it is ok to struggle with this topic though. If you didnt I would be more worried. It isnt as if we are discussing what colour we should be allowed to colour our hair!!

I agree. It's a very emotive subject, and it's natural to struggle with your feelings about it.

[hannah.]

I don't agree with it when it's used as a form of contraception, but I think than any other time it should be allowed. I think it should be lowered by a couple of weeks though, as I was prem and my mum would've aborted me had she had the chance, which is quite a scary thought.
I think it should be a woman's choice. It's like forcing a baby on someone. If abortions were illegal, we'd have even more single parent families and post natal depression, because if a family/woman isn't ready to have a baby she shouldn't have to. I'd much rather risk the life of something that's not even totally developed yet than the happiness of a family.
That sounded really cold, but I'm hoping you all know what I mean