Stitch up the X Case’s dangling loopholes and then hold a referendum to legalise abortion in Ireland – because no woman wants an abortion just for the hell of it, writes Carol Redmond.
The recently completed HSE report into the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar’s death has pointed to Ireland’s unworkable legal situation as a significant factor in her medical treatment, writes Clara Fischer.
Last summer, the Minister for Health endorsed home birth and said more women should be offered the choice of giving birth at home – but new HSE guidelines will have the opposite effect, Eva-Louise Goussot writes.
The Ipsos MRBI poll in the Irish Times also finds that only 37 per cent of people believe abortion should be permitted where a woman deems it to be in her best interests.
Three days of hearings on abortion were held by the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children this week ahead of expected and long-awaited legislation for the X Case.
Dr Anthony McCarthy of the National Maternity Hospital said that there is a wrong assumption that women will try to manipulate psychiatrists by saying they are suicidal in order to have a termination.
TFMR Ireland said that it is upset that, despite numerous requests, it has has not been invited to take part in this week’s Oireachtas committee hearings on abortion legislation in Ireland.
Research has found that people are having difficulty meeting the costs of contraception. Should Ireland follow the lead of other countries and make all contraception available free of charge?
A NEW STUDY has claimed that the number of deaths caused by smoking in the home could be comparable to the number of road deaths recorded in Ireland.
According to the NUI Galway-led research, the concentration of particulate pollution in the homes of smokers (who smoke indoors) is six-times higher than the World Health Organisation’s recommendation for general outdoor air quality, 10 times the allowable level for healthy breathing in homes and up to 17 times greater than levels actually found outdoors.
Smoking at home causes greater levels of air pollutants than using solid fuels such as coal, wood, peat and gas, says Dr Marie Coggins.
Since the introduction of the smoking ban in Ireland, many people have found it easier to stop people smoking in their own homes. So, in today’s poll we ask: Do you allow smoking in your home?
A morning shower; otherwise, cloudy
Max: 13 °C
Min: 4 °C
Mostly cloudy, showers around; cooler
Max: 11 °C
Min: 4 °C
Mostly cloudy with a shower
Max: 12 °C
Min: 4 °C
