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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Irish abortion laws

999 replies

crumpet · 23/05/2015 16:38

In all the publicity about the gay marriage referendum Aibu to wonder why there hasn't been mention of the abortion laws? Have I missed discussion on this?

OP posts:
Chubbychopsmolly · 23/05/2015 16:39

I'm from Northern Ireland. Obviously gay marriage is harmless but abortion isn't so really it's completely different territory and u can't ever see a referendum on abortion and if so it would fail

LineRunner · 23/05/2015 16:41

I'm not so sure about that.

CoupDetat · 23/05/2015 16:51

One battle at a time, crumpet, on battle at a time.

FairPhyllis · 23/05/2015 16:54

Sadly OP I think the reasoning goes: lack of access to abortion only affects women, their lives, their bodies, their health - therefore who gives a shit?

It is very different when you have an issue that at least some men want have a stake in and want some progress on.

FairPhyllis · 23/05/2015 16:55

Ignore first 'want'

Original poster
crumpet · 23/05/2015 16:55

Smile maybe that's it. But given that from a religious perspective both issues might be of a similar magnitude, it's been surprising not to see or hear a whisper.

Mind you, I nearly posted the thread on the Feminism board for views.

OP posts:
Original poster
crumpet · 23/05/2015 16:56

(My response was to coup)

OP posts:
MatildaWaltzes · 23/05/2015 17:00

I have been thinking exactly the same OP.

TheAwfulDaughter · 23/05/2015 17:02

This reply has been deleted

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SaucyJack · 23/05/2015 17:03

In my mind they are two entirely separate issues.

MitzyLeFrouf · 23/05/2015 17:05

The battle for access to abortion for Irish women will be a much bigger battle than the one for gay marriage. I have faith it will happen.

Not sure what you mean by 'no mention of the abortion laws'. Do you mean in general or today specifically?

I think it's fair for Ireland to take this day to celebrate. This is quite an achievement.

burnishedsilver · 23/05/2015 17:07

They are entirely different issues.

AbsoluteGonk · 23/05/2015 17:10

Is contraception unavailable in Ireland - or did I dream that?

Original poster
crumpet · 23/05/2015 17:11

Mitzy, I meant that during the debate on gay marriage as a whole I saw no mention, despite as I mentioned that from a religious perspective they are 2 enormously significant issues. I have also just heard someone on the radio talk about the gay marriage vote as a vindication of the rights of vulnerable people - again the same would apply to women and girls with unwanted pregnancies.

I get that today is a celebration of a single issue, but have still been rather astonished at the lack of mention of another enormous elephant in the Irish room.

OP posts:
MitzyLeFrouf · 23/05/2015 17:11

Contraception was illegal until 1980.

Alisvolatpropiis · 23/05/2015 17:12

Separate issues entirely.

But I do think a shift with regard to the legality of abortion is coming. A country cannot call itself civilised if it continues to deprive women of autonomy over their own bodies.

rootypig · 23/05/2015 17:15

I agree entirely FairPhyllis, and must say that while I support total equality for gay relationships, the absolute lack of mention of women really sticks in my throat.

MitzyLeFrouf · 23/05/2015 17:17

Well I look on today as a big step on the way to Ireland becoming a more progressive society. I'm not sure why you'd expect abortion to have featured as an issue in the marriage equality campaign though. Abortion is such an emotive subject in Ireland, campaigners probably rightly assumed that they'd attract more Catholic voters to the Yes side by focussing purely on the issue at hand.

LumpySpacedPrincess · 23/05/2015 17:17

Contraception can fail.

MitzyLeFrouf · 23/05/2015 17:19

Thanks. I think we're all aware of that Lumpy.

LumpySpacedPrincess · 23/05/2015 17:23

Is contraception unavailable in Ireland - or did I dream that?

My comment was in reply to this ^

KittyandTeal · 23/05/2015 17:31

Absolutely you are making the assumption that abortions are only carried out by women who fail to use, or suffer and failure of, contraception.

I recently had an abortion (I prefer the term termination for medical reasons) at 22 weeks. My dd2 was much wanted, planned for and tried for. She had trisomy 18. It is incompatible with life. I was faced with the choice of termination, waiting for a natural stillbirth or carrying to term and waiting for my baby to die, likely she would have suffered a huge amount of pain in her short life.

Thank god my grandparents moved here for Ireland and I live somewhere that I had the choice to do the right thing for me, and also for my baby.

I am grieving, life is very hard atm. I cannot imagine how much harder it would be if I had been forced into the other 2 options.

The abortion laws in Ireland are shameful.

Cherrypi · 23/05/2015 17:32

I was thinking about this too. Have any other countries legalised gay marriage before abortion?

madreloco · 23/05/2015 17:35

It isn't the day for it. Many of us working on this campaign are also working in the abortion one, but could you maybe let us celebrate the amazing win we just got before telling us how we're not doing well enough at everything else? Hmm

CoupDetat · 23/05/2015 17:36

I agree, crumpet. Smile

Ah right, Absolute, let's ignore the fact that contraception can fail. I don't think any women should be told what she can and cannot do with her body, which in my opinion is what the abortion law in Ireland implies.