A new referendum on abortion ANNE CONWAY T HE ongoing political crisis on abortion is centred around how to implement the Supreme Court ruling that abortion is allowable where there is substantial risk to the life of the mother. The first proposal was to amend the protocol to the Maastricht Treaty which prevents any attempt to challenge the anti-abortion clause in the Irish constitution on the basis of European Commnnity law to allow the right to information on abortion and and for Irish women to have the right to travel. The government hoped this would avoid a separate referendum on abortion. However, after lengthy toings and froings on the exact wording within the governmental parties (Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats) and with the opposition (Fine Gael and Labour), a majority of the other European Community member states refused to allow any amendment for fear that this would open a Pandora's box and that other countries would move to seek derogations or protocols on a variety of national issues.
Once the proposed amendment to the protocol was turned down in Europe, the government decided immediately to go ahead with the Maastricht Treaty constitutional referendum on June 18, leaving the protocol in place, with the promise of a referendum on information and travel to take place later in the year.
The decision to leave the protocol in the Treaty and proceed with the referendum on Maastricht has provoked widespread opposition. The Repeal the Eighth Amendment Campaign recently publicly launched the campaign and received extensive coverage in the national media. The Campaign has sponsorship from some 30 organizations and groups — the National Union of Students in Ireland has affiliated as has the Dublin Council of Trade Unions. A coalition is developing of various organizations - the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, voluntary organizations, women's organi-
International Viewpoint # 227
April 27, 1992
THE abortion issue continues to be the lead story in the Irish media. The political storm that erupted when a fourteen year old pregnant rape victim seeking an abortion in Britain was forbidden to leave the country zations and others. The campaign is involved in organizing a number of major public activities that should put the campaign firmly on the map.
This has also put the "left" parties under pressure — the new Democratic Left (a split from the old Stalinist Workers Party, the Labour Party and the new state-sponsored Council for the Status of Women. All have either called for the protocol to be dropped or a referendum on information and travel to be held before the Maastricht treaty vote.
The main opposition party, Fine Gael, pays lip-service to women's rights but their main anxiety is that Maastricht might not be passed because of the abortion controversy. Opposition to Maastricht from this coalition of the left parties — who are under increasing pressure on the issue - together with the huge numbers of alienated people in the communities and among youth could jeopardize the passing of the Treaty. This is a possibility that the ruling class cannot risk.
### Statement by Roman
Catholic bishops It is against this background that the
Roman Catholic bishops have made a major statement affirming the right to life of the unborn without any reference to the right to life of their mother. They have called for a new referendum on the right to life of the unborn and are in the process of briefing priests on the issues involved.
Another round of pulpit bashing is to be expected as occurred in 1983 in their campaign to have Article 40.3.3 passed. Their statement is a warning to the campaign that if Maastricht is passed it will be business as usual — a witch-hunt against women's rights.
The campaign has been lobbying all progressive organizations in Europe and European parliamentarians to ask the Irish by a High Court ruling - subsequently overturned by the
Supreme Court — continues unabated. (See IV No 224,
March 16, 1992)
Anne Conway of Peoples Democracy, Irish section of the
Fourth International, tells us the latest developments.
by a High Court ruling - subsequently overturned by the
Supreme Court — continues unabated. (See IV No 224,
Anne Conway of Peoples Democracy, Irish section of the
Fourth International, tells us the latest developments.
government to drop the Maastricht protocol. Irish women do not consider this as interference by other EC countries in Irish affairs. EC member states have already refused to allow the protocol to be amended, thus endorsing our anti-abortion constitution, a constitution which denies women information on abortion services in other EC countries. All European countries that ratify the Treaty in their parliament are thus in effect endorsing a denial of the 750,000 ati choice mar
HISTORY was made in
Washington D.C. on April 5,
1992. Hundreds of thousands from around the country converged on the capital to take part in a march in defence of abortion rights, forming one of the largest rallies ever in US history. The event was sponsored by the National
Organization for Women (NOW and was co-sponsored by more than 150 organizations. SARAH M. SPRINGER