Prominent Irish artists and academics based in the U.S. have appealed to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to address the need for reform to Irish abortion laws during her trip to Ireland.
The group, mostly Irish citizens, issued an open letter suggesting that Clinton publicly raise the issue during her State visit.
The letter asks Clinton to “consider addressing this very real and present danger to the lives and health of pregnant women.”
“As Irish citizens, as members of the Irish diaspora in the United States, and as citizens of the US and elsewhere who wish to express solidarity with women in Ireland, we respectfully ask that, as you meet with the Irish government, and as you speak at DCU, you bear in mind this extremely serious gap in Irish law which constitutes a clear violation of basic human rights. “
Signatories to the letter include actor Gabriel Byrne, Riverdance composer Bill Whelan and a number of prominent Irish authors including Colum McCann, Colm Toibin, Peter Quinn and Belinda McKeon.
The letter is in response to the death of 31-year-old Savita Halappanavar in Galway on October 28. According to her husband, Praveen Halappanavar, the Indian national was refused a termination after been admitted to hospital complaining of back pain. The newly married mother-to-be suffered a miscarriage and later died as a result of septicemia.
“The Irish government must take the right decision to protect the rights of women in Ireland, and it should do so without further delay,” the letter states.
As part of her two-day visit to Ireland, Clinton met with senior figures of the Irish government, including a courtesy visit to Aras an Uachtarain to meet President Michael D Higgins. On Thursday afternoon she delivered a speech on global human rights at Dublin City University.
She will travel to Belfast on Friday where she will discuss the peace process and economic opportunities.
Her trip to Ireland is one of her last in her role as US Secretary of State, which concludes at the end of 2012.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.eiriamach | Dec 07, 2012, 08:03 PM EST
More of the truth is emerging now about the real number of maternal deaths in Irish hospitals. Read Niall Hunter's report in irishhealth.com 11/15/12. The maternal mortality rate seems to be more than double the rate reported by the Central Statistics Office. Also alarming is the recent rise in maternal deaths with no clear explanation: "Dr Michael O’Hare, consultant obstetrician at Daisy Hill hospital in Newry, Co Tyrone and chairman of the Maternal Death Enquiry group, says the higher rate comes from far more thorough data gathering than that gleaned solely from the civil register of deaths." The notion that Ireland with its anti-abortion laws has low neonatal mortality rates never made much sense, and now we see that it doesn't stand up to scrutiny of the records.
mairint | Dec 07, 2012, 03:43 PM EST
The pro aborts never miss a trick - they will use and abuse at every opportunity to force their way. The very idea of going after (pro-abort) Kilary Clinton shows their bully tactics. Long Live Pro Life Ireland ! God Bless each and every mother and her precious baby.
aloistmartin | Dec 07, 2012, 01:23 PM EST
Making The World Safe. For Her Husbands Memoirs ! " Bill Clinton eat more Chicken any man ever seen, cause He`s a Back Door Man ( At the White House ) Yeah, He`s a Back Door Man ! ( At the White House )"
katieherk | Dec 07, 2012, 11:44 AM EST
She should keep her nose out of other people's (countries) business when it's not official. She, along with her hubby, believe in abortion no matter what. It's a horrible sin, taking the life of a baby. Didn't notice Stevenstar's comments, but agree with them 100%.
Seanmor | Dec 07, 2012, 11:22 AM EST
Even if the Southern Irish state should enact legislation that would permit the killing of the unborn for the convenience of the mother, the pro-life laws in the North of Ireland would not be affected by this and the most vulnerable human creatures would still be protected in that part of Ireland.
handsome68 | Dec 07, 2012, 08:57 AM EST
I second Stevenstar's e-motion comment. Hilary Clinton is pro-abortion or pro-choice, whatever the term is. Ireland must or should grapple with this issue as a nation and not be either "helped" or "hindered" by the USA. That is my opinion as someone who is "pro-life". My parents were emigrants to the USA both from County Leitrim.
STEVENSTAR | Dec 07, 2012, 08:41 AM EST
I THINK HILLARY CLINTON AND AMERICANS SHOULD MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS AND KEEP THEIR NOSES OUT OF IRISH AFFAIRS.... ITS THIS TYPICAL AMERICAN MEDDLING IN WORLD AFFAIRS MAKES THEM THINK THEY ARE SUPERIOR TO EVERYONE ELSE... WE CAN SORT OUR OWN AFFAIRS OUT SO YOU SORT YOUR OUT ALSO