The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) welcomed the report launched today by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment with recommendation to repeal the Eighth Amendment from the Irish Constitution.
Speaking at the launch, USI President Michael Kerrigan said,
“Today is a historic day. We have seen cross party support and consensus for an issue that has shamed women for decades. The report launched today is the first step in the right direction, and we call on the Oireachtas to do their homework on the topic before it goes to debate and discussion in 2018.
“We echo Chair of the Committee, Senator Catherine Noone, that anyone under the age of 52 years have never had an opportunity to have a say on the issue. Students will have their say on this issue in their thousands, and their feet will hit the pavement when it comes to canvassing for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment.”
USI is calling on the Oireachtas to fully support the committee’s report, and for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to commit to a referendum being held in May, ensuring students would be in a position to cast a vote on the Eighth Amendment.