Why I’m Voting YES to Repeal the 8th Amendment

Although it may have been introduced with the best of intentions, evidence and experience has shown that the 8th Amendment simply isn’t working. It is far more complicated than an ideological debate on human rights and when they begin and end. For many Irish women, the 8th Amendment is an every day stark reality. A reality that sees, on average, 9 Irish women travel overseas everyday to secure the termination of a crisis pregnancy and a reality that sees, on average, 3 Irish women obtain illegal abortion pills online just so they can end their crisis pregnancy at home.

The 8th Amendment is hard law that has given rise to so many and too many hard cases. But these hard cases are also everyday cases that could affect any one of our families. I’m Voting Yes on Friday for all the women in my life, my fiancée, my mother, my sister, my niece, my cousins, my friends and my neighbours. Should they ever be faced with a crisis pregnancy, I want them to be able to receive our care and our compassion at a time when they need it most and most importantly, at home, surrounded by their loved ones without fear of prosecution.

I’m Voting Yes on Friday, I ask you to Vote Yes as well.