Judge may chair convention looking at Eighth Amendment

A judge may be appointed to chair a citizens’ convention which will examine the future of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution this year.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will bring a memo to today’s Cabinet meeting allowing for the establishment of the convention within six months.

Mr Kenny will also set out the need to amend the Electoral Amendment Act to contact those on the electoral register to request their participation in the convention.

The memo will outline Mr Kenny’s commitment to seeking a resolution in the Dáil to establish the convention. This is not necessary but the Taoiseach is eager that the convention has the support of most deputies from an early stage.

Judiciary

The appointment of a member of the judiciary appears to be an attempt to win the support of Fianna Fáil.

It had called for a judge-led inquiry to examine the Eighth Amendment, which places the life of the mother and the unborn child on an equal footing.

This aspect of the process will not be addressed by Mr Kenny’s memo today.

The memo will confirm the establishment of the convention within six months, but senior sources say they expect the body to be in a position to begin its work in September.

The Eighth Amendment will be the first issue it will examine but it will also cover a number of other topics.

Meanwhile, Minister for Health Simon Harris is examining how he can address aspects of the verdict delivered by the United Nations on Ireland's abortion laws.

Degrading treatment

Its human rights committee found that Ireland’s abortion ban forced a woman to carry a foetus with a fatal abnormality, subjecting her to discrimination and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

Mr Harris is understood to be looking at aspects of the finding that do not require legislative change, including appropriate counselling for those who seek a termination abroad and assisting support groups who advise women seeking an abortion.

Bill The Dáil will consider a Bill

this month by Independent TD Mick Wallace allowing for abortions in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities.

The legislation will mirror that presented by his colleague Clare Daly last year.