Dear Editor,

In two weeks time the Irish population will go to the polls in a historic referendum to repeal the 8th amendment from the Irish constitution. The amendment was inserted in 1983 and equates the life of a woman with the life of a fetus.

In the past few weeks there has been serious attempts by some on the NO side to confuse the people about the substantive issue being voted on. We feel it is very important to clarify what our vote means on May 25th.

This referendum is NOT about anyone’s personal opinion of abortion. It is about allowing and trusting women to make the right choice for them.

This referendum is NOT about stopping abortions in Ireland. It IS about allowing women to have abortions and the appropriate care they need safely here in Ireland. 12 Irish women a day have abortions, either by travelling abroad or accessing illegal abortion pills and they will continue to do so.

The referendum is NOT about trusting politicians. It IS about trusting women.

The referendum is NOT about abortion up to 6 months. It IS about giving women the option to terminate a pregnancy when faced with a fatal fetal abnormality and to give doctors the freedom to save women when their health or lives are at risk. If you trust women to make the right choice then you should vote Yes.

If you want doctors to give the best possible care for women in pregnancy then you should vote Yes. If you want women who have been raped to have access to abortion in Ireland then you should vote Yes.

Kind regards,

Gino Kenny TD & Cllr Madeleine Johansson (People Before Profit)