The women of Ireland

‘A victory for the women of Ireland’ is how Health Minister James O’Reilly described the decision by the government to introduce a combination of  legislation and regulation so as to give effect to the 1992 X Case judgment.

The speed with which the cabinet have moved in this thorny area has been prompted by public concern over the handling of the pregnancy of Savita Halappanavar who died last month in a Galway Hospital.

Ireland has a long and contentious history regarding access to pregnancy termination. In earlier years the pro-life bodies constituted a powerful lobbying group.

Mother Teresa speaking at a meeting of the Society For The Protection of Unborn Children in 1980

In recent years that influence seems to have waned as it has come under sustained challenge from pro choice groups.

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