Ireland abortion: Aontu leader Peadar Tóibín to address pro-life 'Doctors for Life' conference in Dublin

A referendum in the Republic in 2018 found the majority wished to liberalise abortion provision in the south.

However Peadar Tóibín, leader of political party Aontu, says that since the majority of doctors and nurses in the republic refuse to perform the terminations, he believes they will come under increasing pressure to do so, in order to implement the changes in the law.

Mr Tóibín is to be a guest speaker at the conference ‘The Future of Medicine is Pro-Life’ organised by Doctors for Life at the Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport on 14 January.

The conference is for for all interested doctors, nurses, allied healthcare professionals and medical students.

Mr Tóibín told the News Letter: "Doctors and nurses have particular worries because they are fearful their ability to have conscientious objections will not be accepted by the state and that they will come under pressure in relation to this in the future to be involved in abortion in some way.

"This is already happening in the south of Ireland where a number of hospitals are not providing abortions because they can't find medical staff to provide those abortions. That will also become an issue in the north.

"The vast majority of doctors are refusing to provide abortions in the south of Ireland."

He pointed out that in 2021, a research paper authored by a doctor and commissioned by the National Women’s Council found that just one every 10 GPs in Ireland are offering medical abortions.

He also pointed out several media reports that noted that just 10 out of 19 maternity hospitals and units across the Republic had fully implemented new abortion services.

Other speakers will be Dr Calum Miller, a medical doctor, philosopher and ethicist who graduated from Oxford Medical School in 2015. He is also an international pro-life speaker.

Dr Dermot Kearney, another speaker, is an Irish Cardiologist working in England. He has assisted many mothers in reversing the effects of the first abortion pill and saving their babies’ lives.

Also speaking will be Lois McLatchie, Communications Officer for Alliance Defending Freedom International who campaigns for pro-life issues in the media.