Clarity needed in abortion debate

The political week closes the same way it began, with the future of the Eighth Amendment debated by politicians.

The Dáil will continue its discussion on the Oireachtas committee’s final report today. The committee has proposed repealing Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution and allowing terminations up to 12 weeks.

Both the Seanad and the Dail began their deliberations last night on the recommendations. The contributions in both Houses were respectful and moderate, in what hopefully is a sign of things to come.

The majority of speakers spoke in favour of the recommendations - including Minister for Health Simon Harris, who painted a very stark picture of the current situation and the consequences of inaction.

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However, the debate took place without any clarity as to whether the Government accepts the proposals being discussed.

The Cabinet has made no formal decisions, and it is not clear when it will. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin have declined to give their positions on the recommendations of the committee and will not do so until the wording of the referendum is published, it seems.

The Independent Alliance has also kept remarkably quiet on the issue. Neither Shane Ross nor Finian McGrath has expressed a view, simply repeating their support for a repeal of the Eighth Amendment but avoiding questions on the 12-week proposal. John Halligan has strongly articulated his support for the measures.

Let us not forget the threats the Alliance inflicted on Fine Gael if the party failed to give it a free vote on a Private Members’ Bill on abortion. The Alliance’s silence on this matter is therefore all the more puzzling.

The debate in the Dail and Seanad, while worthwhile, is taking place in a vacuum. The holding of a referendum has been accepted in principle, but its date has not been identified.

The question has yet to be clarified, but legal advice to the Government would suggest a straight repeal, as proposed by the committee, may not be an option.

Then there is the question of what comes next. In fairness to Minister for Health Simon Harris, his position is clear, and that is to put the Oireachtas committee recommendations to the people. But without the formal decisions of his Cabinet colleagues, he is also in limbo.

This issue cannot be rushed, but it also should not be delayed. In the absence of clear decisions, a proper debate on the substance of the issue cannot really begin.