Oireachtas Committee Recommends Abortion Decriminalisation and Free Access up to 12 Weeks with Overwhelming Support for Free Contraception

14 December 2017

An article in The Times newspaper today illustrates two pieces of compelling oral evidence presented to the Oireachtas Committee that were heavily influential in this decision: Abigail Aiken’s data on the number of women known to be buying abortion pills online, and Patricia Lohr’s evidence on flaws in UK legislation. Both of these issues are just as relevant and harmful to women in mainland UK, and this recommendation for Eire further emphasises the totally unacceptable position for the women of Northern Ireland. Furthermore, the reduction in access to contraception, which will especially hit the highly effective long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods, further increases the risk of unwanted pregnancy. [Sexual health services on the brink, BMJ 2017; 359; doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j5395]

The British Society of Abortion Care Providers (BSACP) notes the groundswell of public and professional opinion, and fully supports legal and regulatory changes that increase access to evidence-based abortion care in both Eire and across the entire United Kingdom.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/women-buying-illegal-pills-swayed-abortion-decision-tvp2kffst

Kate Guthrie/Joanne Fletcher (BSACP Co-Chairs)