Planned Referendum Date Angers Abortion Campaigners

02.08.2017

Pro-abortion groups campaigning for the repeal of the 8th Amendment have expressed anger at the Taoiseach’s stated intention to hold an abortion referendum in midsummer next year. They say they are concerned that fewer younger voters would be around to vote at that time, believing that younger voters are more likely to support the pro-abortion side.

Orla O’Connor, director of the National Women’s Council of Ireland, said the vote should take place “in May at the latest” because younger voters tend to go abroad for the summer.

Ailbhe Smyth of the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment described the Taoiseach’s plan as “extremely worrying” and said holding the referendum in the summer months, when many students go abroad, “would effectively mean disenfranchising thousands of young people”.

The Sunday Times. July 30.