Court gives go-ahead to abortion Bill
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A LANDMARK legal ruling yesterday gave the Government the green light to press ahead with plans for an abortion referendum this year.
Ministers will now begin work on the Bill in the Oireachtas tonight after a unanimous Supreme Court decision found unborn children have no “inherent constitutional rights” outside the Eighth Amendment.
It means a vote on the repeal of the legislation is on track to be held by the end of May as the provisions for the poll can be started before the St Patrick’s and Easter breaks.
It will require a special Cabinet meeting to approve the next steps and the Dail will likely have to come back in for a special sitting on Friday.
Health Minister Simon Harris said the law would be introduced as soon as possible with the intention of formally establishing a referendum commission in the coming days.
He added: “I would appeal to all political parties and groupings in the Dail to facilitate the passage of this referendum Bill so the people of Ireland can finally have their say on this important, sensitive and substantive matter.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he knows there will be a “profound, deep and difficult debate” ahead for the country but asked that it be conducted “respectfully,” both inside and outside of Leinster House.
The decision was mostly backed by TDS with the main parties welcoming the clarity provided by the ruling.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou Mcdonald said politicians are now presented with a “historic” opportunity and responsibility.
Fianna Fail’s Jim O’callaghan added the ruling would provide a smoother path to get the law passed.
He said: “From the point of view of getting a Bill through the House, it will make that easier and I don’t think the Government has faced too many obstacles in its way on that.”
Labour’s Jan O’sullivan welcomed the Supreme Court ruling.
She said: “The decision paves the way for the Oireachtas to debate with clarity the wording of the proposed Government referendum, which is coming before the Dail this week.”
Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone, the former chair of the Oireachtas committee set up to look at the issue of repealing the Eighth Amendment, also backed the decision. She said: “I urge us all to accept the court’s judgment in good faith and move forward in a civilised and respectful manner, as has been the case for the most part so far.”
Pro-life TD Mattie Mcgrath added he believed the decision would be viewed as an Irish “Roe vs Wade” case, a reference to the hearing that led to the liberalisation of abortion laws in the US.
He said: “The decision by the Supreme Court today was profoundly disturbing.
“It has demonstrated with absolute clarity the Eighth Amendment is now the only defence the unborn child has against the arbitrary decisions of politicians to extend the grounds upon which an abortion may be obtained.
“In light of that, the stakes could not be higher in terms of the need to retain Article 40.3.3.”