Ahern rules out early abortion referendum decision
Bertie Ahern today risked angering the independent TDs who support the Government by ruling out a quick decision on holding a referendum on abortion.
The Government relies on the support of the four anti-abortion TDs who are seeking a constitutional ban on the procedure.
Abortions are illegal here under 19th century British legislation but a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 1992 upheld the right of women threatening suicide to have abortions.
Mr Ahern said the cabinet would not consider the matter until autumn at the earliest, making an abortion referendum unlikely before the next general election, due by next summer.
A cabinet sub-committee is still to report on possible legal changes to clarify the situation and Mr Ahern said it had ‘‘a fair bit of checking and consulting’’ to do, ruling out a decision before the summer.
Speaking at the start of an official visit to Brazil, Mr Ahern said: ’’We haven’t made that decision and we won’t make that decision until we bring the final report to cabinet and then we will have to have a long chat on it.’’
His comments came after Tánaiste Mary Harney said she was against an autumn referendum on abortion, claiming it could lead to a ‘‘bitter, divisive and damaging campaign’’.
Mr Ahern said he supported her view, adding: ‘‘I’ve said that a thousand times. That’s why we have put so much effort into this and have consulted as widely as we can.’’
In a report published last year, a cross-party committee of TDs recommended an ‘‘action plan’’ of education, counselling and the provision of contraception to reduce the number of so-called ‘‘crisis pregnancies’’.
In addition, the committee concluded the Government could introduce legislation within the existing constitution, allowing women threatening suicide to have abortions.
Alternatively, a combination of legal changes and a referendum could introduce a constitutional ban on abortions, except under certain medical circumstances which would not include threatened suicide - the option supported by the pro-life movement.
