McDowell sees no need for new right-to-life referendum
The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice has said he doesn't see the need for a new right-to-life referendum in light of yesterday's High Court ruling on frozen embryos.
The court ruled that three frozen embryos left over following IVF treatment did not have an automatic right to life under the Constitution.
It said the matter was one of ethics and was up to the Government and the people to decide.
However, asked about the ruling in Dublin today, Michael McDowell said a referendum was not the solution to the situation.
"I don't think there'll be a referendum on this issue," he said. "I think that there's no need for a referendum.
"It's very, very clear that the High Court judgement speaks for itself. The Irish people, I don't think, have anything to add to the Constitution to deal with this issue.
"The Commission on Assisted Reproduction has reported, an Oireachtas committee has, I believe, a draft report ready arising out of their considerations and I think the legislative route is the way we'll go."
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, meanwhile, said the Government had already done preparatory work on legislation to address the issue, but was adopting a wait-and-see approach.
"We'll have to examine the judgement very carefully and, of course, there's also a possibility this could go to another court," he said.
