Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll: Replace constitutional control on abortion

For the full results of the latest Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll, click here.

There is stronger support among voters for a new constitutional amendment regulating abortion than repealing the Eighth Amendment, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI opinion poll.

The option of replacing the Eighth Amendment with a more liberal constitutional provision is favoured by 38 per cent of voters, against 28 per cent who want to see the current constitutional ban removed completely to allow the Dáil to legislate on abortion.

Just 16 per cent are against either repeal or replacement of the amendment, which recognises the right to life of the unborn with “due regard to the equal right to life of the mother”.

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Any new constitutional amendment on abortion would have to be quite restrictive if it were to meet the wishes of voters outlined in today’s poll.

Voters are in favour of making abortion legal in a number of limited instances, but just 28 per cent of respondents said they agreed that abortion should be legal “where a woman believes she would be unable to cope because of her age or circumstances”. Some 60 per cent of voters are opposed to the legalisation of abortion in such cases.

However, voters are in favour of making abortion legal in a number of circumstances where it is currently outlawed, the poll suggests. These include in cases of rape, incest or child abuse, where 77 per cent of respondents said abortion should be legal.

Similar majority

There is similar majority in favour of the legalisation of abortion in cases where the foetus will not survive outside the womb.

Half of voters (50 per cent) say that abortion should be legal where the child would have a severe mental or physical handicap, with 36 per cent of voters opposed and 14 per cent saying they don’t know.

Some 76 per cent of voters agree with legal abortion where a woman’s life is at risk, while a lower number, but still a clear majority (63 per cent), favour legalising abortion where a woman’s health is at risk.

Just 44 per cent support legal abortion where a woman is threatening suicide – currently grounds for abortion under the Protection of Life in Pregnancy Act – with 38 per cent opposed.

This includes 10 per cent of voters who say they are opposed to abortion “under any circumstances”.

There is little public support for allowing late-term abortions. Asked if abortion should be legal after 24 weeks, just 11 per cent agreed. Some 78 per cent of people said it should be illegal in such circumstances, including the 10 per cent opposed in any cases, and 10 per cent said they don’t know.

Interviews

The survey was conducted on Monday and Tuesday of this week among a representative sample of 1,200 voters aged 18 and over in face-to-face interviews at 100 sampling points in all constituencies. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.8 per cent.

The Citizen’s Assembly, which is considering the future of the Eighth Amendment, will meet against this weekend in Dublin. It is due to make recommendations to the Dáil and the Government by the end of June.

Its recommendations will then be considered by a special Oireachtas committee before the Government and ultimately the Dáil make any decisions in 2018. Any referendum –- if that is what is decided – will not be held until the middle of next year at the earliest.