“Almost months io the day after the passing of…”

Almost 18 months io the day after the passing of the Constitutional amendment outlawing wbortlon, a row hes broken oof In the Free State about 16 veer olds having legal access. to comdoms.

Even after the tramc death of teenager. Ann Lovett io Longford last vear, ancl the “Kerry Babies’ stadal, Leister Heawse politi cians are still clscossing the Sonth in terms that would oonvinet an outsider thai we all artived here through immaculate conrepiioni«. They ignore the fact ot tincsonds. of Trish women going to Britain for abortions: the gale of 30 million condoms in che State last year; and the lengthening ist of concealed. birtiis by frightened ternagers, Wee are subjected inatcad to hysterical Ta¥vings about “moral decay’, The Fianna Fuil spokesperson for health said there was no demand for the Bill — only three days atter the Irish Times had poblished a poll showing that 40% of the giectorate felt that contraceptives should be avaliable ta every one while onk [5% felt chev shawlitbe banned, Yer only some roth age the Fianna Fail jeacler accepted that the 1979 Conmmaception Act — Haughey's ‘Irish solu. tion for an Irish problem’ — was inadeguate and would have tm be Updated, Why oppose the changes they bud then accepted as Tectseary? Haughey thouplit he had a chance of defeating the ESE TAREO wT oo imeasure which FitzGerald had staked his ‘palitical Virility’ on. Baked. political oppattonism bed Placa Fail to Dppaee what as in essence legalisation of what was alreacy a fact — the use af contraceptives Oy fon-tiarried people =< and in so. dering. ewer their total disregard for the needs of Irish peeple, anc in particular young Irish wore Haughey's ather angle was to ‘out-Catholic’ (he goverment by Supporting fee tine of the Roman Catholic hicrarchy. The bishops were determined that there should be no Wberulising of the Contraception laws, They argued that catholic politiciveas should net distinguich between their oblipaions to the church and their role as legislators, ‘They raised ihe BPlErire OF a0 cpidemic of venereal discsac and unwanted pregnuncles cand the pocal- degeneration cf the Trish mation, ho was not witha * false Uiat they ates accused! af being obsessed with S65. (lore sinister than their rarIngs aheat the moral degeneracy Of Drish auth — up until nee ‘cour aTcatcst national asset” - was the assertion by the Bishop of Limetick that catholic legislators were bound te take guidance from their bishops, Mot ony doce che church have significant influence in. the ribning A our schools and Aospitale, they alsa wart to contrat the, legislaimre.

Although the Bill was passed by a Darrow margin it will nat mean o ereal leap forward far frish wiinen. Had it fniled to pass, however. it would have been a Ped setback, Working class womens have never had corttal of our fertiliry, The politicians try te con ws with talk about the importance of women in the home and as rearers of childfeo. They deny ws the cghr to a tegen job and economic independence. They preside over a system where even if a wortan has a job she is likely te earn onby 60% of a man's wage; cape is treated asa harmless bit of fun of something “she was asking far", AS long a8 winen are oppressed so is the entire working class, 4 measite of the advance of sockedy is the level at which women exist. The debute on the contraception bill showed clearly the moet reac Honary elements al the ruling tlass — the bishops and the haokwoodsmen of Biarnes Fail and Fine Gacl — attempting to block advances for women and young people, The fight for women’s contra of their awn bodies is-an impartant part of the fight far freed-a for everyone, for jobs and a proper standard of living, of the fight against police harass. ment and finally for socialism and a workers” republic Thirteen workers at the Henry Siteet, Dublin branely of Duooes Stores are still out on strike alter tine months. The strike began whee IDATU menthess refused td handle South African goods aod Management victimised ome of their members. Despite lois of verbal support the ICTD has done nothing practical oo assisc the atrikets. Meanwhile the debermiTawion of the thirteen to oppose. apartheid saves the honoge of the Trish trade inion movement. They heed every kind of support we Cat give them|

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