Rise in numbers having abortions in Britain

The number of Irishwomen travelling for abortions in England and Wales has increased to a new record of 6,625 per annum, according to provisional figures released this evening by the Office for National Statistics in England.

The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) has said the figures show abortion is a reality for an increasing number of Irish women and this cannot be ignored by the in-coming Government.

The figure for 2001 represents an increase of 244 on the previous year. The number of Irish women giving addresses in the Republic has nearly doubled since 1989 when 3,721 Irish women travelled to Britain for abortions.

Ms Catherine Heaney, IFPA assistant chief executive, said demand for the IFPA’s the non-directive pregnancy counselling service was increasing beyond the range of their financial resources.

"In spite of the highly-charged debate which preceded the Government’s unsuccessful referendum on abortion, there has been little mention of crisis pregnancy and abortion since. During the election campaign, the Taoiseach, in particular, ran a mile from questions relating to this issue.

The IFPA said legislation for the X Case and a more realistic approach to Irish abortion must feature in the policy programme of the new Government.

The figures show that the 20 to 34 years-of-age group recorded by far the highest number of abortion with 4,924 cases.

Some 1,504 women giving addresses in Northern Ireland had abortions in England and Wales in 2001.

"In spite of the highly-charged debate which preceded the Government’s unsuccessful referendum on abortion, there has been little mention of crisis pregnancy and abortion since. During the election campaign, the Taoiseach, in particular, ran a mile from questions relating to this issue," she said.

However the Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has blamed increased abortions on the 1995 Information Act. It said the Government's stated objective of reducing the number of abortions had failed. Mr John Smyth, a PLC spokesman has said the Act provides de factoabortions and the Government should now review it.

"The figures are evidence that abortions have dramatically increased as a result if the 1995 Act."

An average of 127 women per week gave an Irish address when having an abortion in England in 2001, about 25 women per day.