Let us reflect on the present ABC case before the European Court of Human Rights, where three women are accusing Ireland of infringing on their human rights by not providing them with abortion facilities. We should know that their main contention is that our very restrictive abortion regime forces women into unsafe abortions, which in turn leads to higher maternal mortality rates.

This assertion is turned on its head in the most recent World Economic Forum (WEF) report which shows that countries, like Ireland or Poland, with restrictive abortion laws or outright bans on abortion, tend to have lower maternal mortality rates than countries with more liberal abortion laws.

All around the world this report shows that the less abortion a country has the better will be its maternal mortality record.

We punch above our weight in sport; we were the first with a smoking ban; what better accolade than to be that country in the whole world where life is most respected? Let's blow our trumpet for life!

Seamus O'Meagair,

Belview Road,

Mullingar