Harris: I want a vote on Eighth by next year

SIMON Harris says he hopes to hold a referendum on the Eighth Amendment – which gives equal rights to the life of the mother and the unborn – by next summer.

Just 24 hours after the Citizens’ Assembly, chaired by Justice Mary Laffoy, presented its 83-page report to the Oireachtas – which is calling for sweeping changes to the country’s abortion laws – the Health Minister, pictured, said it would be prudent of his department to begin preparing for a referendum.

On RTÉ’s News at One yesterday, he said: ‘It would be my preference that a referendum would take place by the summer of next year.’

Mr Harris added: ‘I think it is important that the debate is respectful... I think there is an onus on all of us, all of us in politics and indeed the media and citizens in this country to deal with these issues in a factual and sensitive manner. And respect the diversity of opinion.’

Meanwhile, the Department of Health has disclosed that 25 pregnancies were terminated in Ireland last year under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act.