With just weeks to go before the country goes to the polls, Youth Defence has launched a national 'Ask the Question' campaign urging voters to seek pro-life guarantees from their local candidates. Spokeswoman Rebecca Roughneen said that the group had already got a 'major push' underway to ensure key voter sections were informed of the need to make the protection of life a key issue in the election.

"As Youth Defence's new leaflet points out, voters need to get a guarantee from candidates that they will not introduce abortion," said Ms Roughneen. "It's not enough to fob voters off with non-committal answers; after the ABC ruling in the European Court, voters need a guarantee that candidates will uphold our ban on abortion." The leaflet can be viewed here: ttp://www.youthdefence.ie/campaigns/election-2011-ask-the-question/

It is, of course, the ruling in the ABC case that has placed abortion on the agenda for Election 2011. As Youth Defence notes, The Labour Party has been very clear on their support of legalized abortion for quite some time. Eamon Gilmore of the Labour party recently argued for the legislation of abortion on demand on RTE' News at One (Hear the interview here: http://www.rte.ie/news/news1pm/player.html?20110104,2879758,2879758,flash,257).

Fianna Fáil, the Greens, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin have also been extremely cagey about upholding our ban on abortion. It is interesting to note, however, that Labour's vote has dropped by some 16% since they openly declared they would act on the ABC case ruling and move to attack Ireland's pro-life ethos, without consulting the people. It remains to be seen as to what the outcome of the election will be and what that will mean for the right-to-life of the unborn child.

Now, with the election fast approaching, most of the political parties are trying to gloss over the issue of abortion. Even Labour, having placated their pro-abortion supporters, are now significantly trying to side-line their own policy. It's not mentioned on their election literature and it doesn't appear on their website. This is social change by stealth of course, where pro-abortion campaigners hope to push through abortion by getting elected on a platform that doesn't mention the issue.

"Our 'Ask the Question' campaign is more crucial to the pro-life lobby than ever before. This campaign uses a series of outlets to keep the issue of abortion on the mind of voters across the country prior to casting their vote and offers ways to make sure that local politicians know where voters stand on this issue.," said Ms Roughnen.

Youth Defence has written directly to over 20,000 people throughout the country this week, enclosing the 'Ask the Question' leaflet and they also plan a series of information blitzes as the election heats up and it gets closer to voting day.

"We're in the process of organising public stalls with voter information, so please call us if you're willing to help out in your area with any of these. We need to challenge voters to speak up for life and ask where their politicians stand on abortion, whenever and wherever they come in contact with a political candidate," said Campaign Director Íde Nic Mhathúna.

"We've we printed a sticker that clearly states "I Vote Pro-Life". This sticker can be placed on car bumpers or front doors, to help grow the pro-life message and to let politicians know exactly where you stand on the issue. We're also putting a major emphasis on getting the pro-life vote out."

Youth Defence and the Life Institute have also compiled a list of addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers for all of the candidates, to assist people to contact their local candidates, if they don't have the opportunity to meet with them. It's available on their websites or you can call the Life House for assistance on 01 8730463 or 01 8730465, and they'd be delighted to help.

Obviously it goes without saying that if a pro-life candidate is standing in your area, please give them your first preference vote.

Lastly, we've also written to all the political parties and to independent candidates and asked them to confirm that they will:

1. Maintain Ireland's ban on abortion, since this position protects the life of every unborn child while allowing all medical treatments necessary to protect mother's lives.
2. Uphold the right of the Irish people to decide on abortion without foreign interference.
3. Ensure that any research involving the destruction of the human embryo should be outlawed.

We will be posting their responses on our website as the campaign progresses.

We're asking you to ask your politicians where they stand on abortion and spread the word by asking at least three friends or family members to do the same. We need politicians to hear pro-life concerns, so it is crucial that you get involved in this way.

This recession is hitting the country hard, but we can't let that be used by powerful and wealthy pro-abortion campaigners who are trying to use the European Court to foist abortion on us. Let's speak up in Election 2011.

LINKS

• Visit Campaign web page
• Download the Ask the Question leaflet