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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Jun 1972

Vol. 261 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Family Planning Education.

24.

asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report that at least 1,210 women from Ireland had legal abortions in Britain last year; and if, in the light of this, the Government will consider a national family planning education programme.

I have seen press reports of a meeting in Italy at which the figure mentioned by the Deputy was quoted. The Deputy will note that the figure relates to women from both parts of this island. I have, of course, no means of checking the accuracy of the information.

I do not intend to ask the Government to sponsor a national family planning education programme.

Does the Minister think it is a good thing for this country that we have so many women going abroad to have a legal abortion?

Information is lacking as to the circumstances under which women with Irish addresses undertook abortions in Great Britain. For example, we do not know how many of them were resident for a time in Great Britain and gave their addresses of Irish origin when in fact the father of the child was resident in Great Britain. We have no knowledge of this kind. So far as we can gather out of the total number of 1,200 mentioned, 577 came from the Republic. We have not got sufficient information upon which to formulate any kind of decision on this matter.

With regard to the 577 coming from the Republic, would the Minister not agree that it is an abominable state of affairs that they are going over for legal abortions?

All abortion is a tragedy.

I am talking about legal abortions, not spontaneous abortions.

Legal abortions are a tragedy too.

In the light of that, does the Minister not consider that a national family planning education programme is indicated?

Leaving aside any question in regard to family planning, the Deputy should read the facts about this in Europe. The facts show that in countries where national family planning has been advanced to a tremendous extent, the abortion rate has risen. The Deputy should study his facts.

How can you have a national family planning education programme side by side with an abortion programme? That is not rational.

Two different people.

The Minister's colleague who is a doctor will tell the Minister that that is a ludicrous statement to make.

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