40% Spike in the Number of Abortions in First Year of Abortion Law

New figures released today by the government show a massive rise in the number of abortions that have taken place. Figures show that 6,666 abortions took place in Ireland in 2019. These figures represent a massive spike in the numbers of abortions according to Aontú Leader and TD Peadar Tóibín. He stated;

“The figures release today are startling figures. They represent a rise of 40% in the number of Irish abortions in the space of 1 year. It’s heart breaking that 2,022 extra lives were ended by the state this year. These 2,022 people would be with us now but for the legislation that was introduced by the political establishment at the end of 2018”.

“Many abortion campaigners stated during the campaign that legalising abortion in Ireland would simply mean that the abortions that were happening anyway would happen here in Ireland. However human rights campaigners such as ourselves stated that Ireland would follow the same path as every other country that legalised abortion and see a massive spike in the number of terminations of life. This has now sadly come to pass”.

“98.2% of abortions that took place happened where there was no threat to the health or the life of mother or child notified. Its also shocking that the abortion that took place outside of the law in the National Maternity Hospital in March 2019 is not mentioned at all in this report. Notification for this abortion was made outside of the statutory 28 days laid down by the legislation also only 1 obstetrician examined the mother in question. 15 months after this took place there still has been no independent investigation into what happened”.

“The establishment parties stated that their law was introduced to give mothers a choice. However, 18 months since the legislation was introduced many mothers are still forced to give birth homeless. Mothers still queue for food at the Capuchin Day Centre for nappies and infant milk. Practical supports to lift mothers out of poverty and give them real economic choice are as absent today as the day the establishment abortion law was passed”.

“Fianna Fáil are now in government. Many Fianna Fáil TDs stated that they supported the Human Right to Life. Now is the time to action these words and support mothers. We in Aontú will continue to fight for the Human Right to Life of everyone in our country”.

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.