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This referendum is a minefield, and the Irish electorate are weary of ill-worded referenda that they don't understand. Many of the young people now eligible to vote, don't even remember the Supreme court decision to roll back the X case. (That was the first, and only abortion referendum I voted in, and remember it well).

It is further confused in the fact that the socialist (and as one was called in the Dáil -that's Gaelic for parliament-today `pro abortionist' from the governmental benches) are urging a 'No' vote. But so are the extremist Pro-lifers.

The Catholic bishops, however are supporting the Government.

Bertie Ahern, should not, however be cast as a completely moral individual interested in legislating on copperfastening an abortion free state. He is facing into a general election, and top of his manifesto going into the last election was sorting out the quagmire of legislation that is the 'abortion debate' in Ireland. He has called another 'grey' and confusing abortion referendum weeks before this country faces into a general election to prove he has 'delivered' on all of his promises. To make it easier on the doorsteps, and (I would imagine) muddy some of the corruption issues currently swamping the media in Ireland in respect of members of his party...one of whom he, himself actually called to resign this week (as that TD (Liam Lawlor) faced into a months jail term for failing to comply with a corruption Tribunal).

Who ever said Irish politics weren't interesting? :-)

Personally, I'll be voting yes to the referendum. But I imagine the turn out for the March 6 poll will be very low, because people do not understand the issue at hand.

The debate has just turned achramonious and any consensus that had been built is gone. Our taosoich declared in the Dail (parlaiment) yesterday that a no vote would mean a liberal abortion regime and stated that he was pasionately pro-life. The liberal partys are reeling claiming that this referendum would hurt women – always looking for the PC vote.

What's really interesting is that even the most pro-abortion people (Liz McManus) are getting very touchy about being called 'pro-abortion' and demanding retractions from other politicans who accuse them of that. They want their cake and eat it, with judges and not the electorate pushing through their agenda in the future. I'll be voting yes, thank you very much.