Abortion in Ireland: Public Opinion

For more than a decade, there has been a significant shift in public attitudes towards abortion in Ireland. Opinion polls and research consistently show increased support for access to abortion within Ireland: In May 2017, an Irish Times/Ipos MRBI poll [1] found that 73% of respondents agreed with abortion up to 12 weeks gestation. Also in May 2017, the results of a Behaviour and Attitudes Poll [2] on abortion, conducted by the Sunday Times, were released. The results indicated that public opinion is in favour of reforming Ireland’s abortion laws. The poll found that: -75% of respondents believed that abortion should be permitted in cases fatal foetal anomaly. -73% supported access to abortion where the pregnancy is the result of rape. -77% believed abortion should be allowed where there is a risk to the health of the woman. The poll also tracked political party support for reform of Ireland’s abortion laws, with a similar trend emerging. The political parties surveyed believed that Ireland should provide access to abortion services in the cases of fatal foetal anomalies (75%), rape (73%), and risk to the health of the woman (77%). In April 2017, in a Claire Byrne Live audience survey [3], 50% of respondents agreed with the Citizen’s Assembly that abortion with no restrictions should be made available in Ireland. In March 2017, an Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll [4] indicated that 38% of respondents were in favour of replacing the Eight with 28% of respondents were in favour of a repealing the Eight. In October 2016, an Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll [5] found that almost 75% of respondents support repeal of the Eighth Amendment [6]. In July 2016, an Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll [7] found that 67% or two thirds of respondents support repeal of the Eighth Amendment [6] to allow for abortion in cases of rape or fatal foetal anomaly. In March 2016, a Red C poll [8] commissioned by Amnesty International Ireland found that 87% of respondents want abortion access expanded and 72% believe abortion should be decriminalised. The poll also found that: 87% supported wider access to abortion in Ireland and 72% supported the decriminalisation of abortion. 69% wanted the expansion of Ireland’s abortion laws to be a priority for the new government (when ‘don’t knows’ and those who were neutral are excluded). 73% believed that the new government should hold a referendum on repeal of the Eighth Amendment [6]. 66% consider it "hypocritical" that the Constitution bans abortion in Ireland but allows women to travel abroad for abortion. 72% believed that the fact that women must travel for abortion services unfairly discriminates against those women who cannot afford or are unable to travel. 68% described Ireland's abortion laws as "cruel and inhumane" (when ‘don’t knows’ and those who were neutral are excluded). 80% supported abortion at least in cases where a woman’s life or health is at risk or where the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest. 38% favoured abortion access as women choose. 7% supported abortion access only in cases of fatal foetal anomaly. Only 5% were opposed to abortion in all circumstances. Of that group, 72% were not aware that the penalty for an unlawful abortion is up to 14 years imprisonment. 55% did not know that having an abortion in Ireland is a crime when a woman’s life is not at risk. 80% agreed that under international human rights law, women have a right to access abortion in Ireland in cases of rape or incest, where their health is at risk or in cases of fatal foetal anomaly. In February 2016, an Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll [9] found that 64% of people surveyed were in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment [6]. Support for repeal was highest amongst younger and middle-aged voters, with about 70% of those under the age of 49 supporting repeal.