THE FINE Gael front bench is to consider the European Court of Human Rights ruling on Ireland’s abortion laws at its weekly meeting in Leinster House on Tuesday morning and the party will issue a formal response, based on a study of the judgment, early in the new year.
“Given the detail of the ruling and the significance of it, we will be taking a studied approach and giving our response to it early in the new year,” a party spokesman said last night.
Speaking earlier in Brussels, the Taoiseach said “immediate knee-jerk reactions” would not be an appropriate response to the court judgment.
Mr Cowen, who was attending the European Council, was asked by reporters if the European Court ruling would be an election issue.
He replied that the issues it raised were important and difficult and it was too early to say what implications it would have.
“Our legal advisers have not had time to have the judgment examined in detail.
“It’s a matter for the whole political spectrum to consider that very carefully. These are important issues.
“Immediate knee-jerk reactions are not the right thing to do in the circumstances,” the Taoiseach said.
The European Court of Human Rights issued a ruling on Thursday that the State had failed to implement existing rights to lawful abortion where a mother’s life was at risk.
Labour Equality, Labour Women and Labour Youth have all welcomed the judgment. Labour Equality chairman Bernard Cantillon said: “The right to life-saving abortions was enshrined by the ruling of the Irish Supreme Court in the X Case almost 19 years ago.
“Despite this ruling and two subsequent referendums the Government has consistently failed to introduce legislation to provide for abortions in such circumstances.”
Labour Women chairwoman Katherine Dunne said: “Currently there are no guidelines as to when legal abortions may be carried out here.”
Labour Youth chairman Colm Lawless said: “The Government must act to bring in legislation and clear guidelines to allow life-saving abortions in Ireland.”
The Feminist Open Forum is holding a “Rally for Choice” at the GPO in Dublin today between 1pm and 2pm.