Sir, - I have been hospitalised for some weeks. In catching up on the news, I was quite disturbed to read that the Tanaiste, Mary Harney, stated publicly that she was opposed to a referendum on abortion. She also spoke about legislation, all-party consensus and how allegedly divisive a referendum would be.
I am disturbed that a Tanaiste would express such views while the consultative process is in train, as if she had already established the outcome to her own satisfaction before deliberations take place. It is also clear that she is opposed to the views of over 70 per cent of the Irish people who want a referendum and are opposed to abortion in all circumstances. Do their views count for nothing?
Legislation on the X decision means abortion in quite wide circumstances, as any legislation must follow the parameters established by the Supreme Court. Only a referendum can restore the position to what the people intended in 1983 and what polls show their intention still to be.
The democratic thing to do is to hold another referendum and no amount of talk about consensus and divisiveness can alter that fact. Let's have the referendum for which we have waited over seven years and then begin to explore ways of offering women positive alternatives to abortion. - Yours, etc.,
Senator Des Hanafin, Seanad Eireann, Baile Atha Cliath 2.