Ireland’s latest abortion scandal shows the country still suffers from a policy vacuum over the issue

Ireland’s abortion laws have recently generated controversy following the case of a rape victim – ‘Ms Y’ – who was refused an abortion and instead gave birth by Caesarean section. The country has experienced previous crises over the issue, most recently after the death of dentist Savita Halappanavar in 2012. Lisa Smyth writes on the controversy, arguing that Ireland still suffers from a policy vacuum over abortion which has effectively created the circumstances under which such incidents can occur.