Abortion Referendum- Republic Of Ireland

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

Today is the day of the referendum on the Republic of Ireland's abortion laws.

The vote will decide whether to repeal a part of the constitution, known as the Eighth Amendment, which effectively bans non-essential terminations in the country.

Polls opened at 07:00 local time and votes can be cast until 22:00 tonight (Friday).

I wonder how the Irish will vote?

[kvalidir]

Almost sure that there won't be a repeal sadly.

[woofgang]

Hopefully if it doesn’t get repealed this time, it will roll the rock a little further

[Islay]

It is a sad state of affairs when a woman has to travel to another country to seek medical help.

[jim360]

There's some reason to be more optimistic, but it's going to be a close vote for sure.

[youngmafbog]

Wouldn't like to say.

Either way it wont be the last we hear of it.

[gness]

Ireland often surprises....and the church isn't as influential as it once was, thank goodness.

I hope it goes the right way....x

[anneasquith]

When you read " non essential terminations" I think surely abortion should only be used if it is essential ? But, not having been in a situation of having a unplanned baby, I don't judge .

[ichkeria]

The ‘Yes’ side should win tho the polls have narrowed recently. The ‘no’ side have not been helped - shame - by an experimental clampdown on social media campaigning

[ubasses]

If the Daily Telegraph is to be believed today, people are returning in their droves from far flung places to vote. Flights and ferries arriving are all fully booked with those who hope to swing the repeal vote. Mostly the younger generation.

[ichkeria]

Currently abortion is only allowed if the woman’s life is at risk. Even brain dead foetuses cannot be terminated. The argument for a change is put best by the point that ‘ no abortion in S Ireland is merely a conceit: in reality many women go to the U.K. for it. It’s time Ireland stopped pretending

[Islay]

ick there was that terrible case a few years ago where the woman died because they would not terminate the pregnancy!
I don't believe i abortions but I believe in the right for the woman to have a choice!

[Zacs-Master]

'I don't believe i abortions but I believe in the right for the woman to have a choice!'

Eh?

You either do or you don't.

[ichkeria]

Yes it can be hard to prove the life is at risk. I remember that.
Fingers crossed for a ‘Yes’ vote

[Islay]

What don't you understand?
I personally don't believe in abortions - as in I would never have one but I do believe that it is a womans right to choose one therfore I would never stop are complain at a woman having one.

[youngmafbog]

ZM, it's quite clear what Islay means. Why do you have to be such a *** all the time.

Let me spell it out. Islay for herself does not believe in abortion. However she recognizes the right of others to a choice.

[atalanta]

It is utterly shameful that in Ireland a raped woman who gets rid of an unwanted foetus faces a longer jail sentence than the man who raped her.

[kvalidir]

I'm with Islay on this. I personally don't want children for my own reasons ( some of them being my health and the possibility of passing on genetic health conditions to them) but if I found myself pregnant I wouldn't have a termination however difficult that made my life (and it would). But then I would have a loving relationship with the father of that spectral child, I wouldn't have been abused and raped. I might feel differently then, thus what's right for me is not necessarily right for other women and they have a right to choose for themselves because everyone's circumstance is different.

[Zacs-Master]

'Let me spell it out. Islay for herself does not believe in abortion. However she recognizes the right of others to a choice.'

I find that highly illogical.

[jim360]

Not really. To take an analogy, it's like saying that you personally wouldn't want to have a same-sex relationship, but recognise the rights of those who do. Or how you might not enjoy throwing dogs off tall buildings, but if that's what people want to do why stop them?

[mccfluff]

how is that illogical? You have a right to choose, whatever your choice should be, it's your right to make it.