The decision by Sinn Fein to call an Ard Fheis later in the year so that the party leadership can seek permission to back abortion on demand makes the stakes in the referendum crystal clear, Save the 8th has said.

Campaign spokeswoman Niamh UiBhriain said it was “saddening” to see Sinn Fein “embracing England’s mistake”: “The voters can no longer be in any doubt: This decision by Sinn Fein means they are embracing England’s mistake, and it also means that a YES vote is a vote for abortion on demand in accordance with the English model. This would be a catastrophic mistake.

In England, one in every five pregnancies end in abortion. That rises to nine in every ten when Downs Syndrome is diagnosed.
The Irish government has looked at England’s mistake and decided to copy it wholesale, with abortion on demand up to three months, and a two-doctor model on vague health grounds thereafter.

We know that a majority of the public oppose this, but sadly Sinn Fein has decided to support it. This is a grave error.
Ireland should not copy England’s mistake. A YES vote is a vote to do just that. On May 25th, we are confident that a majority of voters will decline to go down this road”.