Voters face sixth referendum on abortion

Voters could be faced with a sixth referendum on abortion to change the Constitution that currently permits termination if a mother’s life is at risk, including from suicide.

The expert group of medical and legal experts is due to present a range of options to the Government in September, but already rifts are appearing between the Coalition partners, and also within the parties.

The Supreme Court ruled 20 years ago that the Government must legislate to allow for abortion if a woman’s life is at risk, and this was further reinforced by the European Court of Human Rights in 2010.