Sir, – I must agree with Jim Stack (March 5th); the unions have made suggestions beyond the bounds of the Constitution, and this was ill-advised.
However Mr Stack goes on to argue that we should ignore the Constitution, citing the opinions of psychiatrists and immediately undermines that which he set out to defend.
He claims “psychiatric realities” are being ignored. I would have to point out that ignoring something that is non-existent is an easy trap to fall into and can happen inadvertently. Ignoring the legal fact that the risk of suicide is a danger to the life of a mother requires a conscious decision.
I would agree with him that opinion polls are not sufficient, but would caution him if he thinks the next abortion referendum will go the way he suggests – it may not even ask a question he can countenance. – Yours, etc,