Academics, activists and lawyers came together this evening to launch a new book offering a vision for the reform of Irish abortion law.
The authors, Fiona De Londras and Máiréad Enright, have been leading figures in the discussion of Ireland’s abortion law and are both colleagues at the University of Birmingham, where they lecture in law.
Repealing the 8th, finished last November, offers an assessment of where Irish law stands now and what should happen if the eighth amendment is repealed. Over 127 pages long, the book, which is published by Policy Press, makes a legal case for a reform of Irish abortion law, as well as suggestions for what legislation should look like after a May referendum.
The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone, who was an early advocate for repeal, was present at the launch in the Trinity Long Room Hub. Ailbhe Smyth, the Convenor of the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth, was also present this evening.
Both Enright and De Londras, speaking at the launch, stressed the importance of giving people the language to talk about Ireland’s abortion law, as well as looking beyond a repeal of the eighth amendment.
Speaking to The University Times at the launch, De Londras said the book set out “not only the arguments for repeal, but also a future vision for reproductive rights in Ireland, which includes and goes beyond law reform”.
“I think it’s important, in the context of the referendum, that people have a resource they can go to that is written with a non-lawyer, a non-specialist, in mind”, she added.
Students have been particularly vocal so far in the calls for changes to Ireland’s restrictive abortion law. Next week, thousands are expected to take to the streets to re-affirm their support for a repeal of the eighth amendment, as part of a demonstration for International Women’s Day.
