Abortion referendum: 'Doubts will cause chaos'
The Socialist Party has said the electorate is facing a "legal lottery" in next week’s abortion referendum.
Party spokesman Joe Higgins said the Government and its own agency, the Referendum Commission, are giving conflicting information to voters, a move he said will cause chaos on voting day.
"The Referendum Commission has legal advice saying one thing, the Government has legal advice saying a completely different thing," he said.
"To my mind, [that] shows the folly and dishonesty of the Government, asking three or four questions of the electorate, but only giving the electorate one answer."
Mr Higgins said the issue should have been dealt with by legislation and not in a referendum.
Meanwhile, the Irish Family Planning Association said the outcome of the election will make no change to the abortion situation in Ireland.
Catherine Heaney, a spokesperson for the group, said the Government’s claim that a ‘no’ vote will lead to abortion on demand is simply untrue.
"In fact, what the Government are saying is if this referendum is defeated, we’ll be opening the gates to a liberal abortion regime in Ireland and that’s simply not the case," she said.
"The situation will probably remain the same if we vote ‘no’ to this referendum. What will continue to happen is that 7,000 women and girls a year will travel to England for abortions."
