– Release date: 11 December 1997
The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) has welcomed the change in public opinion which is reflected in today's Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll on abortion in Ireland. The poll reflects the fact that when abortion is considered in real human terms, the Irish people reject absolutism. The 'X' case and now the tragic 'C' case have swept aside the notion that this is a theoretical question which can be dealt with in abstract black and white terms.
Tony O'Brien, IFPA Chief Executive today commented:
"The nature of the abortion debate is now fundamentally changed. People are responding to real cases and real human tragedy, which have shown them, that when they accepted the abstract absolutism of the so-called 'pro-life' campaign, they were sold a pup. The PLC knows that it is has lost the absolutist argument and is responding by attacking the pollsters. They need to accept that one major reason for changing public attitudes is the outrageous antics of their supporters' in recent weeks. This politically cynical criticism of The Irish Times and MRBI is more evidence that they are out of touch and desperate. It will not add to their credibility."
He added:
"For years they have peddled the false notion that it is not possible to allow abortion to save women's lives without opening 'the flood gates' to 'abortion on demand'. This is a paranoid notion which simply does not float anymore."