Taoiseach rules out abortion referendum

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has firmly ruled out a referendum repealing the controversial 1983 constitutional amendment on the equal right to life of the child and the mother.

He was replying in the Dáil to Socialist Party TD Paul Murphy who said the eighth amendment should be repealed in the aftermath of the Yes vote in the marriage equality referendum.

This, said Mr Murphy, would end "the barbaric situation where a woman who has chosen to terminate a crisis pregnancy – even in the tragic eventuality of fatal foetal abnormality – or a doctor or anybody else who helped her could be jailed for 14 years''.

Mr Kenny replied: “Believe me, Deputy Murphy, it is not a case of saying we should have another referendum next week.

“I will not do that, and there will not be a referendum on this issue in the lifetime of this Government.’’

The Taoiseach said the issue deserved the most serious consideration.

“I do not believe in abortion on demand, but there are very sensitive stories in respect of fatal foetal abnormalities and other issues,’’ he said.

“However, it is not a case of repealing the eighth amendment and that everybody will be happy afterwards.’’

Mr Kenny said he knew an Oireachtas committee was considering hearings in the late autumn on the issue.

Consequences

In the case of the marriage equality referendum, he said, people were able to point out exactly what the consequences would be.

“Believe me, from experience over many years, it is not possible to be as clear in respect of a concept of changing the eighth amendment of the Constitution,’’ Mr Kenny said.

“For that reason, the excitement of change created by the vote of the people – and it was the Government that decided to put the referendum to the people by popular vote – is an entirely different matter.’’

Mr Kenny said the marriage equality referendum was about living, love, commitment and dedication. A repeal of the eighth amendment, empathising with the very many tragic stories he had heard, would deal with other elements that were not clear at all, he said.

Legislation

Mr Murphy said they knew about the tragic case of Savita Halappanavar and the horrific case of Miss Y. Repealing the eighth amendment would allow for the legislation for abortion in whatever circumstances the Government considered.

“I am in favour of the full right of women to access abortion but, at the very least, the Government should commit to repeal the eighth amendment,’’ he said.