Sir, – Katie Robinson (February 7th) asserts that “the people don’t want abortion legalised in Ireland” and claims a lack of legislation as a victory for democracy. It is strange that she could reach such a conclusion given that the Irish people have never actually been given the opportunity to vote in favour of abortion.
Instead, when asked by referendum in 1992 and 2002, the Irish people have twice refused to roll back on the Supreme Court judgment in the X case and remove suicide as legitimate grounds for abortion.
Is this not democracy in action? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – As Seamus McKenna (February 8th) points out, a constitutional democracy guarantees the rights, not only of minorities, but of the individual.
He neglects to include, however, that the Irish people have decided that our Constitution should protect those individuals most under threat – unborn children. – Yours, etc,