What do Prof Patricia Casey, Prof Anthony Clare, Labour Party senator Dr Mary Henry, Democratic Left TD Liz McManus and Irish Catholic editor David Quinn have in common?
They all responded with enthusiasm to a proposal from newspaper columnist Breda O'Brien to bypass the debate about constitutional and legal bans on abortion, and discuss how to reduce the number of Irish women actually having abortions in Britain.
"The focus of the legislators has not been on reducing the numbers, but on running as fast as possible from the issue," said Ms O'Brien.
"Most of the debate has centred on medical and legal issues. While this kind of debate is no doubt necessary, it has left people polarised. More importantly, it has not had a major effect on the numbers of women who travel to Britain for abortion - quite the reverse in fact.
"Those who would describe themselves as pro-choice, pro-life or somewhere in the middle would all agree that it is a tragedy that the numbers of Irish abortions are so high.
"What we have in Ireland at the moment is a modern version of the Magdalene Laundry. The crisis pregnancy is dealt with by abortion, in secret, out of sight, and the consequences to the woman and her partner, not to mention society in general, are ignored."
She said the publication of the Women in Crisis Pregnancy study, carried out in Trinity College, Dublin, provided some insight into why women opted to have abortions. This showed that women still feared the stigma associated with having a baby as a single mother, but also that the nature of the stigma had changed from the 1960s and 1970s.
The study also showed that most of the women who choose abortion do so almost immediately, and were almost resentful at what they perceived as the imposition of counselling. They simply wanted the operation over and done with.
"It's really about that intangible thing - changing a culture. It's about things you absorb long before you're in a crisis pregnancy," she said.
The seminar, on the theme "5,000 Too Many . . ." is to take place in UCD on Monday next. It is aimed primarily at those working with young women and those in crisis pregnancies, but is open to the public. Mrs Finola Bruton is due to perform the formal opening.
The discussion is to begin with addresses from Profs Clare and Casey, and then Dr Henry, Ms Evelyn Mahon, one of the authors of the TCD study, and Ms Serrin Foster, of the US-based Feminists for Life will outline issues in the care and support for women in crisis pregnancies.
In the afternoon Ms O'Brien and Irish Times columnist John Waters will discuss cultural prejudices, including the questions of women working and rearing children, and the role of the father.
The final session in the afternoon will discuss issues in the provision of alternatives, including adoption, contraception and counselling, with Ms Hazel Douglas of the Protestant Adoption Society, Dr Mary Shortt and Dr Mary Condren, both GPs.