THE leader of the Progressive Democrats, Ms Mary Harney, has restated her party's opposition to a new abortion referendum, while maintaining that the issue will not present problems in any negotiations with Fianna Fail to form the next government.
"The Constitution gives full protection to the unborn and equally respects the rights and health of mothers," she said. "There is no need for a constitutional referendum." The present difficulties had been brought about by the 1983 abortion referendum, she maintained.
"I hope the issue will go away," she continued. "It is not an appropriate issue for an election. It is complex and difficult and should be dealt with on a cross-party basis. I sincerely hope the groups campaigning for a fundamentalist position to be put into the Constitution do not get the support they are looking for because that would be bad for women."
She said she did not believe the PDs would have difficulties in any negotiations on possible government formation with Fianna Fail, even if that party was at the moment leaving the referendum option open.
"The people we would be negotiating a programme for government with are reasonable people."
She urged politicians of all parties to ensure the issue did not dominate the media or the next election campaign, saying it had proved very divisive in the past. Some people were determined to make it into an issue, she said.
Meanwhile, the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, has defended the composition of the expert group, which includes some prominent doctors opposed to abortion, which he has asked to advise on all aspects of abortion.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday to present the party's position paper on justice, Mr Ahern said the group was " very balanced" and it was "very unfair" to characterise some members as holding one-sided opinions on abortion.
Sources in the party have already confirmed that Dr Patricia Casey and Prof John Bonnar are members of the advisory group. Both hold strong anti-abortion views.
Criticising the Government for "apparently doing absolutely nothing" about the abortion issue since coming to office over two years ago, Mr Ahern said the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, took the view that there was no need for legislation or a referendum and "obviously no need to look at it".
He denied that Fianna Fail was in a similar position. It was "the only party in the land" which had foreseen that the abortion issue could arise again. He had "left it to the group of experts" to recommend whether the issue should be dealt with by legislation, by a referendum, or both.
Much of the arguments were medical and, whatever action was taken, "we have to be sure that, medically, whatever we are doing is the correct one".
Meanwhile, the Fianna Fail justice spokesman, Mr John O'Donoghue, whose comments on an abortion referendum last weekend gave rise to political controversy, reaffirmed his views were "personal".
"I have expressed a personal view in relation to that matter. The party leader has expressed the view of the party. I am a member of the Fianna Fail Party; as loyal and as committed a member you will not find in this country", he, added.
His loyalty to the party leader was "absolute and unequivocal and always has been and always will be and nobody, but nobody, will ever succeed in driving a perceived wedge between us".
Meanwhile, the chairman of, the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution, Mr Jim O'Keeffe TD, of Fine Gael, confirmed yesterday he intends to recommend to next week's meeting that they should appoint legal expert to advise on Article 40.3.3. The legal adviser will also be asked to consider the latest, wording the Pro-Life Campaign would like to see inserted into the Constitution.