Scottish Catholic Observer

Under the new law, abortions may be carried out in Ireland when the mother’s life is deemed to be at risk, including a controversial ‘suicide clause’ which legislates for abortions to be carried out in response to the threat of suicide.

Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick (above) was among those who reacted to the passing of the new law, outlining his concerns and highlighting the new ways that challenges can be brought against the bill.

“People of course will say [the bill] is limited, but we know from the experiences of countries around the world that even with the most restrictive regimes of abortion once it is introduced it tends to expand dramatically,” he told Vatican Radio. “That is our concern. We are very concerned, naturally, with the unborn.

“Apart from legal issues or specific political moves in this or that country, and we have it here now in Ireland, we [the bishops] are still promoters of life and I think that, for us, is always going to be a priority.

“After that we will have to see what course this law will take, and I noted already this morning politicians already raising the point that the constitutionality of this legislation is probably in question, so that will be something that I think all people in Ireland will be interested in, in seeing how that plays out.”

Speaking about the part of the legislation that allows for an abortion under the threat of suicide Bishop Leahy continued: “There is now some medical evidence to say that if a person who is suicidal is told to go and have an abortion that it is even more detrimental to their personal health.”

The debate over the new law saw divisions emerge in Ireland’s ruling Fine Gael party, whose leader Taoiseach Enda Kenny spoke out strongly in favour of the new legislation, as five deputies broke ranks to vote against the bill. They have now been expelled from the party.

Among those who rebelled was Lucinda Creighton TD, a long-time supporter and ally of Mr Kenny, who has been removed from her position as Europe Minister in the government after he decision to vote against the divisive legislation.

“When it comes to something that is essentially a matter of life and death, I think it is not really possible to compromise,” Ms Creighton said, as she outlined her opposition to a bill which she felt was based on ‘flawed logic and absolutely zero medical evidence.’

The political fall-out continued with members of other parties being disciplined for breaking ranks and voting against the bill, including Sinn Fein TD Peadar Toibin who ignored a mandate from his party to vote in favour of the legislation and has been suspended from Sinn Fein for six months as a consequence.

Pro-life advocates claim that Irish politicians rushed through the legislation in light of the controversy surrounding the recent death of expectant mother Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar at University Hospital Galway and in spite of an inquest which found the laws in Ireland not to be at fault in her case.

On a global scale, Malta is now the only country in the world where abortion remains illegal. however, as with other European nations, de facto medical decisions differ to the exact wording of the law.