Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Lohr for her attendance and for her very interesting presentation. I would like to tease out with her the issue of criminality of abortion as it applies in this State and, as mentioned by Dr. Lohr in her presentation, to Northern Ireland. Three women in Northern Ireland already have been charged with attaining the abortion pill. Dr. Lohr mentioned that there has been a reduction in the number of women seeking abortions in the UK. She also said that this is probably a consequence of the availability of the abortion pill. The statistics provided by her in that regard tally with those provided by other experts who have appeared before the committee. In Ireland, attainment of the abortion pill is an offence for which a person could go to prison for 14 years. Likewise, it is an offence in Northern Ireland that carries a similar sentence.

What Dr. Lohr said fits with the testimonies to the committee from the Irish Family Planning Association and others, namely, that women mainly seek abortions for socioeconomic reasons. Therefore, they risk losing their liberty in this State because of their socioeconomic circumstances. For some women, particularly refugees or asylum seekers, travelling to the UK can often be out of reach financially. In Dr. Lohr's opinion, is a medical abortion, as opposed to a surgical abortion, the less risky option for a woman in terms of her physical health, mental health and, in the case of an Irish woman, her liberty? In other words if a woman could have a medical abortion in this country, this would be better for her than being obliged to travel to the UK for a surgical abortion because, as outlined by Dr. Lohr, having to travel to the UK often means an abortion takes place later in the pregnancy. I would welcome a response from Dr. Lohr to that point. Also, would she agree that the availability of a medical abortion is preferable and safer? Dr. Lohr mentioned in her presentation that Canada and parts of Australia have opted for decriminalisation. The UK abortion laws are almost as old as I am and without them, women in this country would not have access to abortion.

Are they a bit outdated in that they still criminalise the woman? I did not realise that there was a life sentence attached to illegal abortion in Britain but that is effectively the same here, in the North and in other countries. Will Dr. Lohr give us some insight as to why Canada and Australia opted for decriminalisation? If we get to the point where we have to frame legislation and regulation around abortion, hopefully we will, that would be a good insight for us to have.