annie repeal ucc 

Annie Hoey, USI Vice President, in UCC yesterday talking to students about Repealing the 8th

The Union of Students in Ireland praised UCC students this morning for voting in favour of campaigning to repeal the 8th amendment of Bunreacht na hÉireann. A referendum took place across UCC campus on Monday & Tuesday of this week with thousands of students queuing to cast their votes. Students were asked “Should UCC Students’ Union campaign to repeal the 8th Amendment of Bunreacht Na hÉireann?” and the total valid poll was 3,363 – 2,837 of which voted ‘yes’, meaning the vote passed by a landslide of 84.4%.

“We are delighted to have UCC backing the Students for Choice campaign, in favour of repealing the 8th.” USI Vice President, Annie Hoey, said, “It once again proves that Irish students are passionate about the future of their country – a country that is changing for the better. No woman should risk her life being irrevocably changed every time she has sex. The fact that abortion is still illegal in Ireland, even in the case of rape, incest, if there’s a risk to health or severe foetal impairment, is a violation of human rights. Repealing the 8th will restore these rights.”

The result now means that UCCSU will actively engage in a local and national campaign to repeal the 8th amendment. Speaking at the count, James Upton, UCCSU Deputy President, said “this result mandates future campaigns to repeal the 8th amendment. We will now actively engage with this issue at all levels, as directed by student council.”

Repeal the 8th

Aidan Coffey, UCCSU President said “it’s important to note that this was put forward by an independent group of students who submitted a petition with 500 signatures which triggered a referendum, in accordance with our constitution. It is really encouraging to see that students remain at the forefront of campaigns on social issues and don’t shy away from hard questions.”

This ‘Yes’ vote means that UCC will join a number of other third level institutions including UCD, UUSU, NUIG and Trinity in actively calling for the 8th amendment to be repealed