The distinct lack of media response to a new new opinion poll showing 70% support for the constitutional protection of the unborn and the prohibition of abortion in Ireland appears to reflect media bias in favour of abortion.
The lack of media response contrasts sharply with the enthusiastic reception given to a recent Red C poll conducted on behalf of pro-abortion agencies that made no distinction between the carrying out of necessary medical treatments in pregnancy which do not target the life of an unborn baby on the one hand and induced abortion on the other hand. See Irish Times and Irish Independent coverage of the previous pro-abortion poll.
The new poll, which was carried out between Jan. 27 and Feb. 6 2010, was conducted by Milward Brown Lansdowne on behalf of PLC. The researchers who used a quota-controlled sample of 950 people over the age of 18 asked respondents if they favor or oppose “constitutional protection for the unborn that prohibits abortion but allows the continuation of the existing practice of intervention to save a mother’s life in accordance with Irish medical ethics.”
The poll results which, were presented at a press conference in Buswell’s Hotel in Dublin on April 15th by Dr Berry Kiely, showed seventy percent support the constitutional protection while only 13 percent opposed it. Another 16 percent of respondents did not know or had no opinion.
Dr Kiely told the meeting that the poll is distinguished from other polls showing support for abortion by its distinction between necessary medical interventions in pregnancy and induced abortion
“where the life of the unborn child is directly targeted. This is a critical ethical distinction which abortion advocates constantly seek to blur,” she said.
The fact that the the main media outlets ignored the poll shows a very worrying bias, which must be challenged
