New thread. Old thread is
here.
Here are the rules, following from the last thread:
- If you were threadbanned from previous threads, you are still threadbanned here
- There are far more pro-choice than pro-life posters. Everybody on the majority side needs to understand that those in the minority could have 20+ people expecting a reply to them. There is no sitewide or AH rule that specifies that people must reply to every post directed at them so don't go around badgering people. On the other hand, this doesn't give anybody the right to soapbox either
- No petty namecalling. It's a sitewide rule, but was rampant across the previous two incarnations of this thread. There will be a zero tolerance approach to this going forward
- Relating to above - do try to avoid antagonizing swaths of posters with sweeping, generalised statements. They rarely add anything to discussion
- No discussion of poster's being from the states or their timezones, etc. It's a cheap shot and derails discussion
- Please try to read the latest posts before replying. Replying to a post that is two days old when the discussion has moved on doesn't translate well in threads that move quickly
- No calling out trolls/suspected reregs. Report the post and move on
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If someone need help of any kind in a crisis pregnancy, the Crisis Pregnancy agency's website is
http://positiveoptions.ie/.
And if you've had an abortion and need to talk to someone about it, the
Irish Family Planning Association has 10 centres nationwide that offer free counselling.
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There is a detailed FAQ available called
AboutThe8th. Disclaimer: it was written by two Pro-Repeal supporters, but is written to be as objective as possible and cites the word of law whenever possible. It is recommended you read this site if you have any questions. If you have a question to ask about the upcoming referendum that is not explained here, feel free to post.
Other than above, here is a FAQ compiled from commonly asked questions in previous threads.
Q: I don't trust politicians. Why should I trust the politicians to legislate?
A: Politicians have a huge amount of power as it stands, but any motion put forward in the Dáil is always put to a vote. Politicians are representative of, and answerable to the people. Technically, politicians could lower the age of consent down to 10 if they wanted, but doing so would be political suicide. They'd be just as likely to raise the cutoff date of abortion.
Q: Why can't people just use contraceptives?
A: No contraceptive is 100% effective. Accidents can, and will happen. Even if an accident happens, such as the condom bursting, the MAP might not work depending on where the woman is in her cycle.
Q: Women will just use abortion as a contraceptive!
A: That's not a question, but abortion is not a contraceptive. Contraceptives help prevent pregnancies from occurring, but do nothing if the woman is pregnant.
Q: This will just bring abortion to Ireland!
A: There is already abortion in Ireland. There have been around 60 legal abortions in total in the last couple of years that have been performed here.
Q: Why can't the women just give the babies up for adoption? Why do they have to abort?
A: Adoption rates in this country are really, really low. If the 3000+ women a year that travel abroad to the UK gave their baby/babies up it would be a minimum of 3000+ babies left up for adoption in a country where the rates simply are not up to where they need to be in order for this to be a viable option. Also, where a woman already has children, she would have to deem herself unfit to care for any of her children before adoption is considered, which is one of many reasons why adoption is not a feasible solution.
Q: Why can't we just focus on sex education and free contraceptives?
A: Regardless of education or contraceptives, pregnancies will happen, you cannot completely eradicate accidental pregnancies, there is always a chance that contraception will fail regardless of how educated each party is regarding intercourse.
Q: If it is repealed, can a doctor deny a woman an abortion?
A: Absolutely. The doctor will have the right to conscientiously object to the procedure; she will then have to be referred to other doctors.
Q: The health service is already under pressure! Will allowing abortion will create longer waiting list for everybody?
A: Women in Ireland, when they fall pregnant, already have the right to free consultations with a GP and a hospital professional. So the fact they will be visiting their GP anyway means their visit in relation to abortion would add zero extra pressure to our waiting lists.
Q: If repeal passes, will there be abortion clinics near me, like in the UK?
A: Under the proposals for abortion up to 12 weeks, we would be dealing with medical abortions. That is performed using a pill which essentially induces miscarriage. Therefore no clinics are required. Surgical abortion performed for medical necessity could be performed exactly as they already are now in Ireland.
