Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Taoiseach: Abortion plan 'not to replace contraception'

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the Government's plans on abortion are not to allow for terminations on demand, or to replace contraception.
The Coalition is to introduce legislation and regulation to allow for abortion in certain cases when a woman's life is at risk, including the threat of suicide.

Mr Kenny has told the Dáil this was to be in line with the Supreme Court 'X' case.

He said: "This matter is to deal with the clarification of the Constitution, and therefore the law, by the Supreme Court in the X Case, and therefore it does include the question of suicide arising from the X Case.

"No intention here of this being seen as abortion on demand or abortion replacing contraception."

Fianna Fáil's Billy Kelleher and Sinn Féin's Caoimhghin O'Caoláin have said they need more information to be sure that the Government is going down the right route.

Mr Kelleher said: "It is vague, the announcement, in terms of that there is no legislation published.

"We will be giving that careful consideration, we want to play a meaningful role in this very divisive debate, but clearly we will have to wait for the actual legislation to come forward."

Mr O'Caoláin said: "We hope that government will, as early in 2013, publish both the legislation and the regulations in order that both can proceed without any further delay."