Sir, - The recent Irish Times/ MRBI poll depicted clearly the changing climate in Irish society towards the abortion debate. An overwhelming majority of the electorate, 77 per cent, believe that abortion should be permitted in Ireland in some circumstances.
This poll documents what has been argued by the Pro-Choice Campaign for some time; that abortion is a reality in Irish society. The problem can no longer be simply passed off to Britain. Since the introduction of legal abortion in Britain in 1967, it is estimated that 150,000 Irish women have had abortions there. Today 5,000 Irish women travel to Britain every year. That's 100 women a week. The Pro-Choice Campaign wants to challenge these hypocritical "Irish solutions to Irish problems". We advocate the provision of free, safe and legal abortions in Ireland and strongly assert that it is a woman's right to choose.
Those who oppose abortion in Ireland are clearly in the minority - a mere 18 per cent, according to the poll. This figure has not been reflected in the visual or print media, which have given overwhelming coverage to these minority anti-abortion views.
The Irish electorate is clearly well ahead of Mr Ahern and the rest of the Fianna Fail Government, which is not talking about action on the issue until 1999 or beyond. It is clear that the electorate wants action and wants it now. Mr Ahern would do well to take note.
Irish people want abortion to be available to women here in Ireland. Contrary to the opinion of politicians and the media, the liberal agenda is not over; it is only beginning. - Yours, etc., Sinead Kennedy, Pro-Choice Campaign,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.