A new referendum on abortion could take place before Christmas, the Taoiseach Mr Ahern said, following the Government’s publication of a proposed amendment to the constitution today.
The objective of the 25th amendment, entitled Protection of Human Life in Pregnancy, is to resolve the unsatisfactory legal situation regarding abortion that has existed since the X Case judgment in 1992, the Taoiseach said.
The vote on the amendment, which the Taoiseach said may take place this year but is more likely to take place next spring, creates a basis for the legislative protection of human life in pregnancy, he said.
The Government intends to ensure the protection of the unborn human life while at the same time ensuring a pregnant woman will receive any necessary medical treatment to protect her life.
"The overall thrust of the Government’s proposal is in line with the third option outlined in the report of the all-party committee chaired by Brian Lenihan TD," Mr Ahern said.
"I want to stress that, for the first time, the new law will protect both women and the unborn in pregnancy and will accommodate existing medical practice which safeguards the life of the woman from exposure to real and substantial risk," he said.
"The new law will give complete protection to medical procedures necessary to avoid those risks.
"In a small number of cases, a strict and undeniable medical necessity, those procedures can entail or result in the ending of the life of the unborn. The new law defines abortion in a way that clearly excludes such ethically legitimate procedures from being termed an abortion," Mr Ahern said.
If approved by the people, the new provisions would be inserted into the constitution as Article 40.3.4 and 40.3.5.
The proposed amendment is a response to the legalisation of abortion in particular circumstances by the Supreme Court.
Proposed new legislation would legalise the use of the morning-after pill and intrauterine devices (IUDs). Plans for a statutory agency to combat crisis pregnancy were also announced by the Goverment.
The Crisis Pregnancy Agency would draw up a national strategy to address crisis pregnancy, promote options other than abortion where a crisis pregnancy occurs and provide post-abortion services. It would be under the direct control of the Department of Health.