A new report by pro-life campaigners in Ireland argues that over 100,000 lives have been saved by the country’s constitutional protections for the unborn.
The actuarial report, on behalf of the Pro Life Campaign, was published on the 33rd anniversary of the abortion referendum which led to the Eighth Amendment being inserted into the Irish Constitution.
The amendment, Article 40.3.3, pledges to “defend and vindicate” the equal right to life of the unborn and the mother, “as far as practicable”.
Saved lives
The report estimates the total number of abortions women in Ireland would have had if the country’s abortion rate was the same as that of England and Wales.
On that basis, 304,000 abortions would have taken place in Ireland between 1994 and 2014.
Instead, women from Ireland underwent 108,000 abortions abroad, with the group claiming that as many as 196,000 lives were saved.
Comparisons made against Spain and Belgium in the report estimate that 121,000 and 75,000 lives were saved respectively.
Eighth Amendment
It’s time some attention was given to all that’s good about this life saving constitutional provision
Commenting at the launch of the report, Cora Sherlock of the Pro Life Campaign said: “There are few laws we can say with certainty save lives. The 8th Amendment is one such law.
“Taking a conservative read of what is contained in the actuarial report, there are tens of thousands of Irish people alive today thanks to the 8th Amendment.
“It is reasonable to posit that well in excess of 100,000 people owe their life to this Amendment.”
Irish Government
She added: “To date, there has been way too much focus on the push for repeal of the 8th Amendment.
“It’s time some attention was given to all that’s good about this life saving constitutional provision.”
The Irish Government is currently under pressure to hold a referendum on whether or not to repeal the amendment.