ABORTION looks set to feature in the general election campaign after the Fianna Fail leader announces his party's position tomorrow on the conflicting demands for a referendum or legislation on the issue.
There was speculation in Leinster House yesterday that Mr Ahern was considering holding a referendum on the Supreme Court decision in the X ease, which makes abortion lawful in limited circumstances.
This morning, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, finally calls the long awaited election when he informs TDs at 11.45 a.m. he will be seeking an immediate dissolution of the 27th Dail. He will then meet the President, Mrs Robinson, to request the dissolution.
Shortly afterwards, the three Coalition leaders, Mr Bruton, Mr Spring and Mr De Rossa, will unveil their 21 point election manifesto at a joint public meeting of the Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left parliamentary parties in the Shelbourne Hotel at 1 p.m. The main interest in the manifesto will focus on how the Rainbow government intends to meet Fianna Fail's proposed reduction of five percentage points in the top tax rate over five years.
The state of the parties on the dissolution of a unique Dail which elected two different Taoisigh to form two different coalition governments is: Fianna Fail 68 seats, Fine Gael 46 seats, Labour 32 seats, Progressive Democrats 8 seats, Democratic Left 6 seats, Green Party 1 seat and Independents, including the retiring Ceann Comhairle, Mr Sean Treacy, and Mr Michael Lowry, 5 seats.
Mr Ahern met his legal advisers last night in preparation for the announcement of his commitment on abortion at the launch of the party's election manifesto tomorrow.
Sources close to Mr Ahern refused to give any indication of his thinking last night. This followed a short statement yesterday saying that the working group established by Fianna Fail had been completing its work and Mr Ahern intends to answer the letters from various groups and will be replying to them shortly based on the work of the advisory group".
It is known, however, that three months ago Mr Ahern favoured the idea of referring a Bill on abortion to the people. Using the device of Article 27 of the Constitution, a novel provision which has never been used, a majority of the members of the Senate and not less than one third of the members of the Dail may, by joint petition, request the President to decline to sign a Bill on the ground that it contains "a proposal of such national importance that the will of the people thereon ought to be ascertained".
It could not he confirmed last night. however. that the Fianna Fail leader will proceed with this proposal.
Yesterday. Mr Ahern promised that if a Fianna Fail coalition with the Progressive Democrats is formed it will last for five years.
Speaking to his deputies and senators, Mr Ahern predicted a tough campaign. He urged poll topping TDs to manage their votes to ensure running mates are elected. Mr Ahern's comments were aimed at a number of TDs who win high personal votes but fail to bring in second candidates.
It is understood that Fianna Fail and PD campaigners in marginal constituencies have been meeting to coordinate electoral strategies to try to ensure cross party transfers to maximise the Fianna Fail/PD representation in the next Dail.
Mr Ahern also said his party's tax strategy, which includes the reduction of the top rate of tax from 48 to 43 per cent over five years, would stand up to scrutiny during the campaign.
Fine Gael will publish its document on jobs and taxation on Sunday, in the first of four sections of its manifesto to be published over the next fortnight. The other documents will cover education and health, crime and the environment.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael has maintained that it can increase its Dail representation from 47 to 55 or more seats. The director of elections, Mr Mark FitzGerald, told reporters yesterday this could be done by making gains in constituencies in Dublin and the mid west.
Mr Michael J. Noonan, who lost the whip on the Divorce Bill, had it restored to him by an unanimous vote at the Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting yesterday.