Labour says abortion legislation is being 'steamrolled' through

The Government might be under pressure to rush the abortion referendum legislation through the Dβil before the Hierarchy meets in the next fortnight, the Labour Party has suggested.

Its health spokeswoman, Ms Liz McManus, said the Government was determined to "steamroll" the legislation through even though it was unlikely the referendum would take place before February. "I do not know if it is to make sure that the Bill is completed before the bishops meet in the next 10 days to two weeks, but something is putting tremendous pressure on the Government to make it insist on guillotining the Bill," she said.

The Government defeated by 63 votes to 52 her motion to send the legislation back to committee stage. She said half the amendments in the Bill were not considered at committee stage yet the legislation was back in the Dβil for the final stages.

"It [the constitutional amendment] is unique and unprecedented in that what is being proposed is, in effect, to put legislation in the Constitution. It is being done in a way that is legally and constitutionally suspect and it is being done with an approach that is impossible to understand."

The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said: "We have given more time, both in the House and in committee, to this constitutional amendment than any other previous constitutional amendment."

Fine Gael's health spokesman, Mr Gay Mitchell, questioned the commitment to protecting the unborn. Mr Martin insisted they were protected. "We are providing a modern statute in terms of the crime of abortion," he said.

The legislation is expected to finish all stages in the Dβil today.