The political volleying over next month’s abortion referendum continued today as the Labour Party condemned the Government and Fianna Fáil for their stance on the morning-after pill as being dishonest.
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The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern: His party's stance on the morning-after pill was branded dishonest by Opposition parties today.
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Labour's deputy leader, Mr Brendan Howlin, said the Taoiseach's acknowledgment in the Dáil this morning that the outcome of the referendum would not change the constitutional status of the morning-after pill undermined the Government’s credibility.
"The Government’s credibility is in ruins as its misleading claims on the morning-after pill have been exposed . . . what is beyond dispute is that there are legal ambiguities regarding the position of the morning-after pill," he said.
Mr Howlin called on Mr Ahern and his government colleagues to withdraw their statements regarding the issue.
Meanwhile the Government once argued for a Yes vote, saying it protect the lives of pregnant woman.
The proposed amendment to the abortion legislation will ensure pregnant woman would receive any treatment needed to save their lives, the Minister for State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and Islands, Ms Mary Coghlan said.
"A yes vote will protect and support pregnant women, will remove any uncertainty surrounding the use of emergency contraception and will ensure that abortion will continue to be illegal in Ireland unless the people choose to change the law," she said.
Based on the support of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Minister for Health today called on Fine Gael leader Mr Michael Noonan to withdraw his statement that a Yes vote endangers the lives of women because necessary treatment may not be available.
The Institute yesterday said the proposed amendment would legalise existing obstetrical practice in Ireland and protect the ethical principles for the care of pregnant women.
Minister Martin said the Fine Gael leader’s statements were designed to scare women and were misleading.
The Institute also criticised "sensational reporting" of statements that women with haemorrhages as a result of miscarriages may not receive medical care.
But Mr Martin was himself criticised by Fine Gael for failing to establish a Crisis Pregnancy Agency which was announced in October 2001. The Fine Gael’s Mr Jim O’Keeffe TD said it shows the Government’s focus on constitutional change has done nothing to reduce the actual rate of abortion.