in october, the supreme court heard an appeal from the northern ireland human rights commission againstd within the next month. the most recent northern ireland life and times survey suggests that abortion is is another area in which politicians are out of step with public opinion. ask people whether abortion should be given in the case of serious fatal abnormality, or in the case of rape or incest, and significant majorities are in favour. but ask if a woman should be able to have an abortion on demand and the balance tips significantly. fully 60% of people are opposed in this instance. 0verall, catholics are more likely than protestants to oppose abortion. for sinn fein, i think that what we see is a changing relationship of the citizens of ireland with the catholic church, so over the past 20 years, you see that, but sinn fein also having their position on the constitutional question, which is overwhelmingly supported. so, they can have this liberal agenda that's there. for the sdlp, they are more conservative traditionally, but i do think that they are going to change as attitudes c