7th March 2002

---

`No Vote' - a victory for compassion and common sense

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams MP has described the defeat of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution as a victory for compassion and common sense. He said that the government should now move to bring forward legislation in line with the X case and ensure that the remit of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency is re-examined and that sufficient resources are provided to assist women with crisis pregnancies.'' Mr. Adams said:

``Today's result is a victory for compassion and common sense. Sinn Fein called for a No vote because we believed that this referendum was flawed and the proposals did not adequately address or resolve the complex issues involved. And whatever the outcome, some 6,000 women every year will still leave Ireland to have their pregnancies terminated.

``Following this result the government should now move to bring forward legislation in line with the X case. They should also re-examine the remit and resources to be provided for the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and ensure that we have a real strategy to assist women with crisis pregnancies.

``The government also have questions to answer with regard to the conduct of this referendum - the fact that it was rushed through and that inadequate  information was  provided. The result is that many people felt unable to cast their vote because they were unsure what way to vote. It is also unacceptable that the referendum was held mid week leaving many young people unable to vote in what was an important referendum.

``This week common sense prevailed at the polls and the government should now act on the wishes of the people.''

---

Sinn Fein Press Office, 44 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
Tel: +353-1-8726100 and +353-1-8726839   ·   Fax +353-1-8733074
E-mail: sinnfein@irlnet.com   ·   Website: http://www.sinnfein.org

---

Sinn Fein   ·   Sinn Fein Documents

---