March for life OUTSIDE OF SLIGO UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, 13TH OF JANUARY
2024
Estimates of 800-900 abortions per month being carried out in Ireland have
been described as “a devastating tragedy” by Seán Wynne, Drumshanbo
Secretary of the Irish Catholic Association Campaign, at a very
well attended MARCH FOR LIFE last Saturday, outside Sligo University
Hospital.
While there are official figures as to the number of abortions/terminations
which have taken place in Ireland since the HEALTH (REGULATION OF
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY) ACT 2018 came into effect, the START group, (Southern
Task-*Group* on *Abortion* & Reproductive Topics) which represents some of
the medical professionals involved in abortion provision, said its members
estimate they are carrying out between 800-900 terminations per month.
The focus of the HEALTH (REGULATION OF TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY) ACT 2018
is to provide for and regulate termination of pregnancy; to make provision
for reviews at the instigation of a pregnant woman, or a person on her
behalf, of certain medical opinions given in respect of pregnancy; to make
available without charge certain services to women for the purpose of
termination of pregnancy in accordance with this Act and, for that purpose,
to amend the Health Act 1970
<https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1970/en/act/pub/0001/index.html> and
certain other enactments; to provide for offences in respect of the
intentional ending of the life of a feotus, other than in accordance with
this Act.
Commenting on termination figures today, Seán Wynne
expressed dismay that rather than being horrified at the number of
terminations / abortions taking place, these START medics have been
campaigning for additional changes to the legislation, which they claim are
needed, changes which would in fact facilitate even more abortions/
terminations. “It is stunning how the goalposts keep shifting, without any
scrutiny or hard questions being asked. The public was misled every step of
the way during the referendum campaign, as people were repeatedly told, and
falsely reassured, that abortions/ terminations/ unlawful killings would be
restricted in the event of the Eighth Amendment being repealed.
Mr Wynne continued “But now the sad and tragic truth is starting to
emerge. Pro-life campaigners were accused of scaremongering in the run up
to the referendum, but based on the latest figures, if anything, they
underestimated what would happen in Ireland if the 8th amendment was
repealed, now that we see the true figures emerging”.
“Factoring in the number of abortion pills previously bought online, as
well as the drop in the number of Irish women travelling to England for
abortions, 800-900 abortions per month still represents an almost trebling
of Ireland’s abortion rate, or, over 12,000 terminations in one year. 97%
of babies terminated are perfectly healthy, so the question must be asked;
why are life-giving alternatives to abortion not even being discussed?”
said Seán Wynne.
He added “This outcome is a devastating tragedy and a huge indictment of
the Government, resulting from all of the misleading statements made during
the referendum campaign five years ago, as well as their refusal to support
positive alternatives to terminations. The Minister for Health at the time
of the referendum, Simon Harris, closed his eyes and ears to everyone who
predicted what was likely to happen in the event of repeal of the 8th
amendment.”
In conclusion, Mr Wynne said “We are hugely encouraged by the way in which
pro-life activists remain committed to the right to life of all human
beings, given the setback that happened in 2018. Responsibly and
persistently, we will fight on to ensure that the truth gets out about the
kind of abortion/termination regime that this Fine Gael-led government has
introduced. One only has to look at what’s happening in other countries,
with great hope and optimism, to see that this battle for the right to life
of the unborn is far from over.”
Irish Catholic Association
Submission for Abortion/unlawfully killing Review 2022
Background to submission:
The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (“the Act”) was signed into law by the President on 20 December 2018 and all sections were commenced on 1 January 2019.
The main purpose of the Act is to set out the law governing access to termination of pregnancy in Ireland. It permits termination to be carried out in cases where there is a risk to the life, or of serious harm to the health, of the pregnant woman; where there is a condition present which is likely to lead to the death of the foetus either before or within 28 days of birth; and without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Section 7 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 states that:
“The Minister shall, not later than 3 years after the commencement of this section, carry out a review of the operation of this Act.”
The review clause was included in the 2018 Act in order to facilitate monitoring of the operation of the legislation in practice, as well as of the delivery of services in the area.
The review is also noted in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future.
A three-part approach is being taken to reviewing the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation.
Research to inform the service user and service provider strands will be commissioned and carried out independently.
The Department of Health is managing the public consultation. Submissions received will be collected and sent to the Chair of the Review process to consider. The purpose of the consultation is to seek the views of the public on the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.
Our submission:
It is vitally important that this review is transparent and meaningful, and that, in accordance with its objective of “reviewing the operation of the Act”, it ensures that the negative outcomes of the abortion/ unlawful killing legislation are acknowledged and examined. Otherwise, the undertaking would simply be a whitewash, and fail to meet with the transparency and public interest requirements expected.
In answer to Question 4 (b), here is the detail / evidence to support our position.
The operation of the Act has produced the following consequences:
- The abortion / unlawful killing rate in Ireland increased rapidly with legalisation from 3774 to 6,666 abortions in 2019, with another 6,577 in 2020. The Review should examine what can be done to reduce the number of abortions/unlawful killings. We were told during the referendum by our politicians that abortion/ unlawful killing would be ‘safe, legal and rare’, yet the sharp increase in the abortion/ unlawful killing rate has not prompted any actions by the HSE or the Minister of Health. The Review should look at how the change in the legal status that has caused the number of abortions unlawful killing / to rise and examine strategies as to how the operation of the Act could reduce this number in a pluralist society.
- The Review should also examine whether women are being fully informed of their rights as to other options than abortion /unlawful killing during counselling .
- Almost one thousand women did not undergo an abortion after a first consultation with an abortion provider in 2019, indicating that the three-day waiting period is a positive measure to reduce the number of abortions/ unlawful killing. Similarly, almost twenty per cent of women seeking abortion changed their mind in the three-day wait in 2020. The waiting period is a key factor in the operation of the The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 Act and must be retained.
- Women have reported “horrific” experiences with abortion pills. Ninety four women have made claims against the Health Service Executive because of adverse outcomes after abortion. Almost two thousand calls were made to a helpline from women seeking post-abortion support in 2020 alone.
- A preborn baby, named Christopher by his parents, was misdiagnosed with a severe disability, and then aborted in Holles Street. The NMH admitted liability in August 2021. The Review should support the parent’s call for a full investigation into this operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (“the Act”), particularly in relation to establishing a protocol to ensure parents not pressured into having an abortion – and are given factual, peer-reviewed information and offered support in continuing with their pregnancy.
- The Review should take into account the concerns raised by support groups for families where baby has a severe disability, who say that families are sometimes being pushed towards abortion/ unlawful killing as happened in the Baby Christopher case.
- The Review should investigate why a study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in October 2020 by researchers from UCC said that doctors in Ireland were left ‘begging for help’ if babies survived late-term abortions.
- It should also investigate whether the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 permits feticide, since the same study confirmed that feticide – administering a lethal injection to the unborn baby’s heart – was being carried out in Ireland, despite assertions in the referendum that late-term abortions would be illegal.
- In reference to late-term abortion, the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 Act has clearly created a situation where feticide is now being performed without the requirement for pain relief for the child undergoing abortion.
- The Review should examine whether the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 is transparent, as another study, published in April 2021 in the journal Contraception, said that senior Irish doctors were being trained internationally to carry out late-term abortions, using a horrific method known as ‘Dilation and Evacuation’. What is happening in this regard needs to be made transparent to the public.
- Record-keeping and reporting around the provision of abortion in this country needs to be radically overhauled, to bring Ireland into line with other countries. Data which can help to ensure a better public understanding of why women undergo abortion must be made available, and statistics regarding outcomes after abortion are communicated. It was revealed recently, for example, that no system is in place to centrally record adverse outcomes after using the abortion pill. The annual report produced by the Department of Health should not be a tool to conceal negative outcomes after abortion. The operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 should ensure that information produced is both comprehensive and helpful to shaping policies that would reduce the number of abortions taking place.
- Abortion Pill Reversal allows a woman to safely reverse the effects of abortion after taking the first abortion pill. In the past three years, some women have sought this option the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (“the Act”) Act should operate to provide women with this choice.
- The Act has also been misinterpreted to allow “at-home” abortions without a full consultation. This must be reversed without delay.
- The Review must also hear from pro-life doctors and nurses, in regard to their experiences with the abortion regime and especially in regard to conscientious objection under the operation of the Act. It is a matter of concern that Minister Donnelly charged the controversial grouping, the National Women’s Council of Ireland, with choosing civil society groups to meet for the Review, and that pro-life groups, and even pro-life TDs were excluded.
- The constitutional right of all citizens to oppose abortion must also be respected. The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (“the Act”) compels taxpayers to fund abortions, and this section should be repealed.
Name: Sean Wynne
Secretary
Irish Catholic Association
Hill Road
Drumshanbo
Co Leitrim
IMPORTANT: I give permission for the content of my submission to be reproduced with my full name and address included .
HEA-MO-02676-2023
8th May 2023
Dear Mr. Wynne,
The Review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 commenced in line with statutory and Government commitments in December 2021. The Review will assess the effectiveness of the operation of the legislation and will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
The public consultation provided organisations, stakeholders, advocacy groups working in the area and all other interested parties with the opportunity to inform the Review of the operation of the legislation. The consultation closed on 1st April. Submissions received as part of this process are currently being reviewed. The total number of submissions received was 6,968.
Yours sincerely,
Fiona Conroy
Private Secretary to the Minister for Health
This presentation was made at the annual Matthew Bulfin Education conference of AAPLOG and ACPeds in Indianapolis on April 6th, 2019.
Dr Trevor Hayes is a Consultant in Obstetrics & Gynaecology with almost 20 years’ experience in Medicine. Dr Hayes qualified in medicine from University College Cork in 1995. Post – Graduation he obtained accredited training on the West of Scotland Scheme and received a surgical fellowship from Edinburgh.
Leitrim Fine Gael member and former local election candidate, Sean Wynne, has resigned from the party in protest at what sees as the unnecessary triumphalist celebrations which followed the announcement of the outcome of the 8th Amendment vote. He campaigned for a No vote in the Referendum and it was much too serious an issue for such overt demonstrations of victory – Link below on why he resigned:
Irish Examiner Friday 10th of may 2019
Estimates that 800-900 abortions a month are being carried out in Ireland have been described as “a devastating tragedy” by the Pro Life Campaign.
While there are no official figures as to the number of abortions which have taken place in Ireland since new abortion laws came into effect the START group, which represents about 250 medical professionals involved in abortion provision, said its members estimate they are carrying out between 800-900 terminations a month.
“It is stunning how the goal posts keep shifting without any scrutiny or hard questions being asked. The public were misled every step of the way during the referendum campaign when they were told abortion would be restrictive in the event of the Eighth Amendment being repealed.