Simon Harris tells Opposition of difficulty over referendum date

Minister for Health Simon Harris informed the Opposition that he could not be definitive on the date of a referendum on the Eighth Amendment as its fate lay in the hands of the Oireachtas.

Mr Harris met the leaders of the opposition parties on Tuesday evening to brief them on the decision taken by Cabinet to hold a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment and draft legislation to allow for terminations up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy and in certain other circumstances.

The leaders were advised by Mr Harris that he would be seeking to progress the Referendum Bill as soon as possible but he stressed its passage was at the mercy of members of the Dáil and Seanad.

The Minister confirmed it was his intention to publish the Referendum Bill on March 6th and have it introduced into the Dáil on March 8th, which is International Women’s Day.

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The Minister explained the rationale behind the Government’s decision to seek an enabling provision in the Constitution, in the event of a repeal.

Labour leader Brendan Howlin said his party was in favour of a straightforward repeal. However, he said he accepted this is the way the Government had chosen to go and was based on the advice of the Attorney General.

Repeal simpliciter

Speaking after the meeting, Social Democrats leader Catherine Murphy said her party also favoured repeal simpliciter but accepted the Government’s approach.

“The Minister explained that the Attorney General’s recommendation for the enabling clause is designed to give what he called ‘belt and braces’ protection to the Oireachtas’s right to legislate on this matter into the future,” she said. “We in the Social Democrats support this approach in principle, subject to seeing the exact wording.”

Meanwhile, incoming leader of Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald confirmed the party would seek to alter its position on abortion at a future ardfheis.

Currently the proposition to allow for terminations up to 12 weeks goes beyond the party’s policy. Sinn Féin supports the availability of abortion in cases of rape, incest, fatal foetal abnormality, health (mental and physical) and risk to the life of the woman.

However, Ms McDonald confirmed this is under review and would be debated at an ardfheis ahead of the referendum.

“The ardfheis will ultimately decide the party’s position in relation to the 12-week proposal,” she said, “but let me say this; for too long the women of Ireland have been let down by this state. This cannot continue.

“Compassion and trust in women must prevail and Sinn Féin will not be found wanting in that regard.”