Katie Ascough, who was impeached as president of UCD's Students Union last year after removing abortion information from student pamphlets, has said "it is not easy to be pro-life and young".

Ms Ascough (21), from Dublin, said she believes the choice in the upcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment is difficult, in particular for young people.

And she believes social media is adding pressure onto young voters.

"Social media doesn't reflect the truth of our society. There has become a stigma that being pro-life isn't cool. I'm not a fan of Twitter because it isn't a balanced platform.

"It is not easy to be pro-life and young. It is very hard to go against what is perceived to be the 'cool thing' on campus," she said.

"It's ridiculous that young people have to break a stigma based around the right to live," she said.

"What kind of society are we living in that a right to life is seen as anti-cultural and uncool?"

Ms Ascough has been keeping "very busy" canvassing on a six-week live nationwide tour with the Pro Life Campaign.

She said if young people were properly informed, she believes the pro-life side would win the referendum.

"It's very important that everyone votes. If undecided students could be presented with two sides of the debate, I would be confident and looking forward to seeing a large youth turnout in this referendum.

"However, given the imminence of a referendum and the current oppression of freedom of speech in universities across the country, I am not holding my breath for a fair and open debate."

Irish Independent