Abortion bill 'not about changing the law'

There are further signs of unrest between Coalition partners following the drafting of a bill on legalising abortion in line with the X-case ruling.

The Sunday Times reports that Labour ministers have rejected the draft legislation and branded it "unworkable" following the inclusion of a plan that would force suicidal women to be assessed by six doctors before being granted a termination.

The document, which was drawn up by the Health Minister, James Reilly, recommends a panel of two obstetricians and four psychiatrists to carry out the assessments.

It is believed senior Labour members are looking over the draft bill to see if a solution can be found before Tuesday when the bill is due to go before Cabinet.

Constitutional barrister, Paul Anthony McDermott, said the new legislation is not about widening the availability of abortion, but instead making guidelines clearer for doctors.

Mr McDermott said: "The success of the legislation will be in trying to make it clear to people that it is not trying to change the law.

"You can see from the inquest, where everybody is turning it into an abortion inquest whereas in one reading of the evidence it was simply medical issues, and regardless of whatever law you have on abortion in Ireland, if when you go into hospital the doctors don’t understand the law and aren't having connected up treatment, then no abortion law will solve these kind of problems."