The Oireachtas all-party committee on the Constitution will today begin the first phase of its public hearings on the controversial abortion issue. The committee will take evidence from medical experts, including paediatricians, obstetricians and representatives from medical organisations.
Much of the questioning in the next week will centre on whether or in what specific medical conditions abortions are necessary to save the life of the mother. This first phase of the hearings will end next Tuesday, May 9th. It is hoped to have the hearings completed before the summer recess and for the committee to report to Government in the autumn.