THE ACTION ON X group is planning to hold a rally on Monday evening to mark 21 years since the controversial verdict in the Supreme Court X Case which determined the right to abortion in Ireland in certain circumstances.
The rally is aimed at pressuring the government to ensure there are “no more delays” in providing legislation for the Supreme Court’s decision in March 1992 that abortion is legal in circumstances where a woman’s life is at risk, including from the risk of suicide.
The government is currently in the process of drafting legislation to comply with the X Case ruling but there is considerable debate about the number of medical professionals that should assess suicidal risk.
Action on X says that no more than two medical practitioners should be needed to approve an abortion and is calling for state-wide access to abortion under the terms of X as well provision for abortion of a foetus which has a fatal abnormality and cannot survive.
“Two decades later, despite the death of Savita Halappanavar, weare still waiting for this legislation,” the group said in a statement today referring to the controversial death of the Indian dentist at a Galway hospital last year after she was allegedly denied a termination.
“There must be no more delays. We, the undersigned, call on the government to legislate for the X Case by the summer.”
Over 100 people and civic society organisations have signed up to the call for legislation on X including a number of independent TDs and senators, among them Labour’s Seanad leader Ivana Bacik.
Action on X plans a rally at 6.30pm at the Central Bank in Dublin this coming Monday. The rally will depart from the Central Bank and head towards Dublin Castle where an informal meeting of EU health ministers is taking place.
It is part of ten days of action being undertaken by the campaign group to put pressure on the government.
“We are calling on the government to produce legislation without unnecessary restrictions, so that women whose lives are at risk because of pregnancy – including the risk of suicide – have real rather than theoretical access to abortion in Ireland,” Action on X spokesperson Alison Spillance said.
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