Commenting on the figures, Dr Bruce said, “Announcing the decision to hold the referendum on the Eighth Amendment, the then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, stated that ‘abortion in Ireland will become safe, legal and rare’. When you think of an event, or circumstance as being ‘rare’, it brings to mind something that is infrequent, uncommon, or not often found. Like myself, many in Ireland today, Christians and non-Christians alike, will be shocked and deeply saddened to discover, therefore, 6,666 abortions were carried out in Ireland in 2019. This is more than double those accessed by women from Ireland in the UK throughout 2018.
“For every 10 children born in Ireland in 2019, the life of another unborn child was terminated. On only 3 occasions were abortions carried out where there was an immediate risk to the life of the mother.”
The Moderator continued by saying, “The Department’s figures don’t change the fact that all human life remains sacred and special and that the lives of women and unborn children matter profoundly, and are deeply precious to God. We recognise the great pain involved in the extremely difficult circumstances faced by women and their families who experience a pregnancy crisis. We therefore renew our call for the Government, and wider society, to place a greater focus on the provision of world-leading, compassionate care for women, children and families, including comprehensive support in the perinatal period for those facing pregnancy crisis.”
You can read PCI's statements at the time of the referendum and in the run up to it, here