Sinn Féin President Mr Gerry Adams has this evening called for a no vote in Wednesday's abortion referendum saying those proposing the constitutional amendment do not understand it themselves.
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Mr Adams said: "With less than two days to go to polling, the electorate is as confused as ever about the government's referendum. We now face a proposal seeking to insert legislation into the Constitution that even its supporters cannot fully explain," he said.
He said the referendum is flawed because the proposals do not adequately address or resolve the complex issues involved. "They do not have due regard to the equal right to life of the mother," Mr Adams said.
He claimed the proposed amendment will do nothing to stop 6,000 women every year leaving Ireland to have their pregnancies terminated.
"We are also concerned that little attention has been paid in the debate to the need for comprehensive measures to assist women with crisis pregnancies. The establishment of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency is an inadequate response from the government," he said.
"This is an extremely difficult issue for everyone as there are a variety of strongly and sincerely held views across society. But Sinn Féin believes that the proposed amendment is a backward step," Me Adams concluded.