leo admits concern over 12-week plan for abortions
Ministers have their say on change to Constitution at two-hour meeting
LEO Varadkar has said he understands concerns about the possibility of allowing unlimited abortions up to 12 weeks.
The Taoiseach said: “It’s fair to say that for a lot of people in the country the proposal went further than many people would have anticipated.”
He spoke out following a twohour Cabinet discussion on the recommendations of the Oireachtas special committee on the Eighth Amendment.
Its proposal to give unrestricted access to termination up to 12 weeks, is among the most contentious.
The issue is set to dominate the political agenda in the coming months with Mr Varadkar expressing a preference for a referendum at the end of May or in early June.
For a vote to be held within such a tight timescale, politicians will have to move fast and it all kicks off again next week with three days of debate in the Dail and Seanad. After that, the Cabinet will meet again and it will then be up to Health Minister Simon Harris to publish possible heads of a Bill outlining what any new legislation would entail.
Speaking about the committee’s proposal for unrestricted abortions up to 12 weeks, Mr Varadkar added: “It certainly went further than I would have anticipated a year or two ago.
“Also having read the report I understand the logic behind that and why they came to that decision, particularly given the widespread availability now of the abortion pill.
“People are getting that over the internet and using it without medical supervision all over Ireland every day.
“There’s a concern understandably among many politicians that the proposal might go one step too far, then again perhaps not. So that’s the debate we’re going to have over the next few months.”
A Government spokesman said every minister spoke at the Cabinet meeting on the contentious issue and differing opinions were expressed. She added: “The Taoiseach is confident and comfortable with the broadly divergent views.”
Ministers Charlie Flanagan, Justice, and Heather Humphreys, Business, were at a conference on gender inequality, but stopped to speak about the abortion issue on their way in.
Mr Flanagan said he supported the recommendations of the special Oireachtas committee, while Ms Humphreys revealed she is still consulting with her constituents on the matter.
It’s fair to say this went further than many would have anticipated leo VARADKAR on ABORTION PROPOSALS