Ireland Pro-Life Group Raises Abortion Before Election, Poll Has Pro-Life Majority
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 15, 2009
Dublin, Ireland (LifeNews.com) — A leading pro-life group is raising the issue of abortion before the June elections. Meanwhile, a January poll, the results of which are only becoming available now, shows a pro-life majority when it comes to both abortion as well as destroying unborn children in scientific research.
The Pro-Life Campaign is calling on both the government the main opposition parties to make clear their legislative intent on abortions prior to the June 5 elections.
During a press conference on Thursday, Pro-Life Campaign medical advisor Berry Kiely said Irish political leaders need to do more to protect unborn children subjected to harmful experiments.
"The Government’s record in protecting embryos both in Europe and Ireland has been unhelpful," she said, according to an Irish Times report.
Kiely promised her group would be educating pro-life voters about where candidates and parties stand on key pro-life issues — saying Pro-Life Campaign will "notify our supporters on the stances of the various parties in advance of election day."
Meanwhile, Kiely presented the results of a January Millward Brown IMS poll showing a majority of Ireland residents were pro-life on both abortion and human experimentation.
The first question asked, "Currently experimentation involving the destruction of human embryos does not take place in Ireland. Do you think the Dáil should enshrine the protection of the human embryo in law or not?’’
Some 47 percent said yes, 19 percent no and 34 percent didn’t know. Seen another way, with the unsure people removed, 71 percent opposed experimenting on human embryos and 29 percent were supportive.
A second question found 51 percent opposed to legalizing abortion in Ireland, 30 percent in favor and 19 percent unsure. Removing those who didn’t have a stance, Irish voters opposed legalizing abortion by a 63 to 37 percentage margin.
The third question concerned a constitutional amendment banning abortions except to save the life of the mother.
Some 63 percent supported an amendment, 16 percent opposed it and 20 percent were unsure.
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