The All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution is progressing steadily under the chairmanship of Brian Lenihan. This week it published its third report, on the Presidency. More are on the way. It is looking at access to the Dail and Seanad for Northern politicians and emigrants, at Cabinet confidentiality, at human rights, at Constitutional recognition and a fixed term for local authorities, at gender-proofing the Constitution and at age limitations on standing for public office.
In all this work there is no mention of abortion, although, according to sources, the topic attracts more correspondence than any other. The Government promised that a Green Paper on the subject would be considered by the all-party committee, but, despite saying it would be published last June, there is still no sign of it. In fact, it is still being compiled in the Department of Health. The reason for the delay is given as the volume of submissions, an amazing 10,000.
The one deputy pursuing the issue, Liz McManus, who believes we must reduce our abortion figure, says she has been told several times that the Green Paper will be available "this session". She feels, in common with the expert group, that it is now a matter for the law, rather than the Constitution, and hopes the Lenihan committee will agree - eventually.
But then, of course, no one is anxious to hurry things along. The Government is going grand, thank you, despite the little contretemps on regionalisation. Abortion, as all know from experience, will create ructions. Best to let things stand. That means while abortion is legal here, following the X case judgment, it is not performed here.
In fact, despite nearly 6,000 known Irish abortions in England annually, there is no abortion in Ireland. The Lenihan committee has its work cut out. If indeed the subject ever reaches it.