When the Irish abortion Bill becomes law, Malta will be the only country in the European Union where the law still fully respects and protects life, both born and unborn. That is something that Malta should be proud of.

The Irish abortion law is not about protecting life during pregnancy, it is about legalising abortions in Irish hospitals, throughout the full nine months of pregnancy, on grounds such as threatened suicide. This law was forced through the Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament) by the Irish Government using a whipped vote despite the fact that the evidence, such as that heard at the Oireachtas public hearings on abortion earlier this year, shows that abortion is not an appropriate treatment for suicidal feelings. It was also passed despite commitments to voters by the two largest parties in the Irish Parliament (Fine Gael and Fianna Fail) that they would not introduce abortion legislation. In the end, Fine Gael deputies were whipped to vote for the abortion law, while Fianna Fail had a free vote.

This abortion law is a life-ending, regressive step for Ireland and will be a disaster for mothers, babies and the Irish medical system.

The people in Malta are privileged to live in a country where the law still respects and protects life, both born and unborn. Sadly, in Ireland, due to the betrayal of political promises, women and babies will no longer enjoy this protection.