Government publishes policy paper on abortion

The Government has published a six-page policy paper on abortion, setting out its plans for abortion legislation provided the upcoming referendum results in the repeal of the Eighth Amendment.

The Department of Health states: “This paper outlines policies which the Government decided it would seek to give effect to in a General Scheme of a Bill regulating termination of pregnancy in Ireland should the proposed referendum be passed.

“The policies outlined in this paper would only be relevant in the event that the proposed referendum on Article 40.3.3 is passed.

“In order to transform these polices into a General Scheme, these policies will require further scrutiny, refinement and definition taking account of legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General.”

The paper closely mirrors the framework proposed by the Citizens’ Assembly and Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment.

Colm O’Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, said: “The legislative framework outlined today would broadly realise women’s rights, and meet the State’s human right obligations.

“The Minister for Health and the government are to be commended for the expansive framework set out here. Providing access to medical abortion on request in early pregnancy, and in later pregnancy in additional circumstances, is the minimum needed to respect and fulfil women’s human rights.

“We welcome that the approach taken in this policy paper. The many months of dedicated work by the Citizens’ Assembly and Joint Oireachtas Committee reviewing evidence and seeking solutions has paid off.”