Joe Higgins TD speaking at pro-choice Rally at Dail

The case of a pregnant 16 year old being refused a place in a private Catholic school in Munster has caused  widespread shock and disgust. The issue came to light in a report from the Ombudsman for Children’s rights.

In April of this year, the government parties, including the Labour Party that claims to have a pro-choice position, shamefully rejected a bill to legislate for the X Case, introduced by Socialist Party TD, Clare Daly. The persistent conservatism of the political establishment was exposed and women in Ireland (like the estimated 150,000 women who have travelled abroad to access a termination since 1980 before them), continue to suffer the consequences.

Christine Thomas, author of the new book 'It doesn’t have to be like this - Women and the Struggle for Socialism' spoke to Sarah Wrack about why such a book was necessary.

The Draft Bill legislating for X case is designed to placate reactionary elements of Fine Gael and seeks to criminalise and punish women in crisis pregnancies. The pro-choice movement must mobilise to exert maximum pressure on the government to remove the worst provisions in the draft and maintain the fight for a referendum to repeal eighth amendment.