IRISH RUGBY TOUR
DEPORTATION DAD
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Ireland At Full Strength For Historic Tour Of Australia
Three Kids Set To Lose Their Dad After Visa Is Rejected
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AUST RALI A’ S I RI S H N E WS PA P E R June, 2018 | Volume 31 – Number 6
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REFERENDUM RESULT
YES NO 66.4%
33.6%
MAJORITY VOTES TO REPEAL IRELAND’S CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON ABORTION
LANDSLIDE FOR ‘YES’ IRELAND has voted overwhelmingly to reform its strict abortion laws. Campaigners celebrated with champagne after a historic referendum result in which two-to-one voted in favour of change. The public decided by a landslide to repeal part of the state’s Constitution that effectively prohibits the procedure unless a mother’s life is endangered. “I believe today will be remembered as the day we embraced our responsibilities as citizens and as a country,” the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar (pictured left), said.
“The day Ireland stepped out from under the last of our shadows and into the light. The day we came of age as a country. The day we took our place among the nations of the world.” The poll produced conclusive consensus for reform amongst men and women, nearly all classes and age groups and across most counties in Ireland. The final vote was 66.4 per cent to 33.6 per cent in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, which ef fectively outlawed abortions. The turnout was a 64.1 per cent and
there were 6042 spoiled votes. The only constituency to vote No, narrowly, was Donegal in the north-west. There, 48.1 per cent voted Yes with 51.9 per cent against. The strongest Yes vote was in Dublin Bay South, with 78.1 per cent. The overall result mirrored almost exactly the 1983 referendum when the Eighth Amendment was voted in. On that occasion, 66.9 per cent voted in favour of the abortion ban with 33.1 per cent voting against it.
INSIDE
• Celebrations in Sydney after referendum result • What happens next?
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