Minister for Health Simon Harris has said he cannot guarantee that legislation allowing for abortion would be passed by the current Government in the event the Eighth Amendment is repealed. If the referendum is passed, legislation would then be introduced to allow for unrestricted access to terminations within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Mr Harris said: “Subject to everyone honouring what they have signed up to in terms of [the] confidence-and-supply [agreement], I expect we could get the legislation passed. Mr Coveney said his support for the Government proposal was conditional on additional safeguards being included in the legislation. Mr Harris said Mr Coveney had teased the issues through and was satisfied the proposal was the best way forward.

Source: The Irish Times April 02, 2018 01:52 UTC