New poll shows 60 per cent of us would support abortion on request

New figures released today show that over half of us would vote to repeal the Eight Amendment

A Red C poll for Amnesty International found that 60 per cent of us are in favour of abortion on request, while a further 25 per cent agree that the option to terminate should be available to women who become pregnant as a result of rape.

The poll result come ahead of a referendum on the repeal of the Eight Amendment, due to be held next year.

NEW POLL: Majority of people support making #abortion on request a reality in Ireland https://t.co/YXCGJOFcUp #repealthe8th #itstime pic.twitter.com/YzCaBfKdZx

— Amnesty Ireland (@AmnestyIreland) November 1, 2017

Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland, Colm O'Gorman, said: "There is the side to this debate that recognises that women should be able to make decisions about their own healthcare without the opinions or morals or views of other people being enforced upon them.

"Then there is the side of the debate that believes that women should be criminalised for making these kind of decisions."

The Oireachtas committee tasked with examining Ireland's abortion laws recently voted overwhelmingly against retaining the Eight Amendment.

The decision was passed by 15 votes to three, with two Fianna Fáil TDs, James Browne and Anne Rabbitte, abstaining.