The Pro-Life Campaign has said that if the Government is serious about reducing the abortion rate it would develop a strategy and make additional resources available to provide women in crisis pregnancy with alternatives to abortion. This morning the Irish Family Planning Association released the most detailed analysis yet of the particulars of Irish women who travel to Britain for abortion. It said that more than 200 Irish women are travelling to Britain every week for abortions. Tony O'Brien of the IFPA said that the issue should no longer be treated as a political football, but needs to be recognised as a daily reality happening to women in every constituency here.
An increasing number of women are seeking counselling before travelling to Britain for abortions, according to the IFPA. The data released today reveals that 60% of Irish women who go to Britain for a termination have had access to some kind of counselling. 40% have travelled without being referred. The figures are based on information provided by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, which is the single largest provider of abortion services to Irish women. The BPAS carried out 8,214 abortions for women resident in Ireland since January 1997. The Pro-Life Campaign has said that it takes grave exception to the claim by the BPAS that legalised abortion would act as a solution to the problem.
