Planes, boats and jail are the Government's preferred options for dealing with women in crisis pregnancies, according to a woman's health-advice group.
Chairperson of the Well Woman Centres Ms Helen Keogh today condemned the Government's decision to proceed with another constitutional referendum on abortion.
Ms Keogh said: "Abortion is a personal, moral, ethical and social issue - and a women's health issue which has no place in any Constitution".
She described the legislation as cruel and showing little compassion to those "who have to take a hard and lonely decision to terminate a pregnancy".
By removing the risk of suicide, it excludes those pregnant as a result of rape or incest, she said. "Woman (and girls) will have less protection under the Constitution if the legislation framed by the Government is enacted".
Ms Keogh, who is a Fine Gael senator, said: "Women will be termed criminals in this country if they are driven to seek a termination through utter despair".
The Government announced on Friday its plan to hold the referendum on March 6th.
The referendum seeks to overturn the current status on the issue established since the "X" case, which permits abortion in a case where a pregnant woman is suicidal.
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