Abortion vote ‘is on course for May 25’

But Taoiseach admits he is still seeking legal advice

THE Government is ‘confident’ the referendum on the Eighth Amendment will be passed on the target polling day of May 25 – despite the fact that the Taoiseach has said further legal advice is being sought on the wording.

The proposed wording that would be inserted into the Constitution to replace Article 40.3.3 has been agreed by Cabinet.

Last night it was confirmed to the Irish Daily Mail by a source that it reads: ‘Provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancies.’

The new wording makes it clear that the Oireachtas may legislate to regulate termination of pregnancy.

This proposed wording would replace the current law regarding abortions in our Constitution, but where it will go in the Dáil remarks: Leo Varadkar Constitution has yet to be confirmed. This will be decided at another time by the Government, working with the Attorney General.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday told the Dáil it is the Government’s intention ‘to publish the Bill in the first week of March’. But the draft wording may change down the road as the Government is seeking further legal advice in relation to this, as referenced by the Taoiseach yesterday in the Dáil.

Mr Varadkar said: ‘It is the Government’s intention to hold the referendum before the end of May... We are on schedule in terms of the timeline we have set out but I can’t promise you that... because of course I don’t control this House or the other House.’

The Taoiseach also said: ‘The intention is to publish the Bill in the first week of March but we need to get some further legal advice on the precise wording.

‘We are confident it is okay, but we need to get some further advice on it and the place in the Constitution where it should rest. We anticipate having the legislation ready in the first week of March.’

Health Minister Simon Harris brought the draft heads of Bill before Cabinet yesterday and he received approval to ‘proceed on that basis’.

May 25 or June 8 had been mooted as possible dates for polling, with the May date previously being suggested as preferable due to students having travel plans for the summer.

And a Government source yesterday said they are ‘very much on course to have it in May’, acknowledging the ‘tight timeframe’ they are operating within.

And despite confusion in recent days about the Government’s confidence in the change to the legislation being approved by the electorate, it’s understood they are confident ‘the referendum itself will be passed’.

Yesterday’s move by Mr Harris was described as the procedural, second step in the process.

The Health Minister described it himself as the Government taking ‘the next step on the road to a referendum on the Eighth Amendment’.

‘We are on schedule’