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 Abortion is a divisive issue in Ireland where, after large street
protests from both sides of the debate, a complete ban was only
lifted in 2013 when terminations were allowed if a mother's life was
in danger. [nL5N0YP19C]
When Ireland chose to become the first country to adopt gay marriage
in a referendum this year, marking a major shift in what was once a
strongly Catholic and socially conservative society, calls for
abortion law reform gained momentum.
"Since we know how much the Irish state cares about our reproductive
parts... I think it's only fair that the women of Ireland let our
leader @EndaKennyTD know the full details of our menstrual cycle,"
comedian Grainne Maguire said in a tweet this week that kicked off a
Twitter campaign that has gone viral.
Dozens of other women joined in, tweeting details of their menstrual
cycle, with some criticising Kenny for not responding.
 Governments have been loath to tackle an issue they fear could
alienate conservative voters despite a dramatic waning of the
influence of the Roman Catholic Church, which had dominated politics
in a country where divorce was illegal 20 years ago.
The 2013 abortion legislation was adopted following the death of a
woman who was not allowed to abort her dying foetus, a controversy
that made international headlines and reopened the decades-long
debate.
Kenny, a practising Roman Catholic, was sent plastic foetuses and
letters written in blood by pro-life campaigners for bringing in the
limited reforms and has said any further changes will be left to the
next government.
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His junior coalition partner, Labour, has already said it will
campaign at the elections next year to allow abortion for cases such
as rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormality.
Activists are demanding the abolition of the eighth amendment of the
constitution, which enshrines the equal right to life of the mother
and her unborn child, while their opponents demand that it remains
in place to safeguard all life.
Less than a quarter of Irish people believe abortion should be
available in all circumstances, an RTE/Behaviour & Attitudes poll
showed this week, with 64 percent in favour in some circumstances
and 14 percent against it under any circumstances.
"To all the women tweeting @EndaKennyTD their period news. They can
take our human rights, but they'll never take our humour
#repealthe8th," Maguire tweeted.
(Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Louise Ireland)
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