Pro-Choice Campaigners put pressure on Government. Since the x-case in 1992 and subsequent referenda the question of abortion has been ignored by every consecutive Irish government. Despite the fact that the people have on multiple occasion expressed their support for legislation on the legal provision of abortion in Ireland when the mother’s life is at risk, including the risk of suicide, the issue has been ignored by politicians.

In December 2010 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Irish Government must provide legislation. Almost 2 years have passed and the current Labour/Fine Gael has made yet another attempt to stall the issue by setting up an ‘expert group’ to look into the legislation and make proposals. This group was supposed to report back in July, which was then postponed to September. At the time of writing there has been no sign of a report.

It is clear that the politicians are worried about their rural catholic vote, this is particularly true of Fine Gael but also of the Labour Party. Arthur Spring, Labour TD in Kerry, helped organise a meeting between TD’s and pro-life group One Day More. Many TD’s have called for a free vote, ie not being bound by the party whip, when the legislation is put to the Dail. The hypocracy of TD’s, who are willing to follow the party whip and vote for cuts to the most vulnerable people in the budget while arguing that abortion is an individual ‘moral issue’, is absolutely sickening.

Socialists believe that women should have the right to choose what they do to their own body. The control of reproductive rights is an integral part of the fight for women’s liberation, against sexism and conservative so called ‘family values’. To win the right to choose women (and men) must organise and take to the streets. In 1992 it was the massive protests that made the High Court reverse its decision to allow X the right to an abortion.

The past few months have seen a new movement of young people, mostly women, getting organised in Pro-Choice campaigns and groups. As a response to Youth Defense’s offensive billboard campaign during the summer hundreds of people turned up to a protest called on Facebook. There are new groups being established across the country in cities and colleges. We must take to the streets, show our strength in numbers and put pressure on the politicians to provide for abortion in Ireland.

Join the March For Choice on 29th September meeting at 2pm at The Spire, O’Connell ST.