Coalition confident abortion deal will happen

Last-minute talks between ministers in the Coalition have left both sides hopeful that agreed proposals on abortion legislation will be brought before Cabinet tomorrow.

An agreed wording of the bill will legislate for the X case and address the threat to a woman’s life from suicide, senior Coalition sources confirmed.

Labour and Fine Gael were both confident last night that a deal would be ready for Cabinet, with suggestions that fewer than six consultants would be needed to approve a termination. A two-stage process for approving a termination will also be included in plans.

However Fine Gael faces a backbench revolt on the issue of suicide being included in the proposals, which could see several TDs oppose it and be expelled from the parliamentary party.

“We’re hopeful of it getting to Cabinet but it’s not a done deal,” said a Labour senior source. Fine Gael sources said there was still some “tick-tacking” to do but they were “fairly confident” of agreement.

The final wording revolves around how abortion is permitted where a woman shows suicidal intent.

An earlier draft of the legislation proposed six consultants being involved. A lesser number will now be proposed to review cases but over a two-stage process.

Where there is a medical emergency, only one doctor will be required to approve a termination.

“There’s a very narrow parameter to stay within the Constitutional limits but legislate for the Supreme Court case and not beyond,” a senior source said.

However, tensions are high among Coalition parliamentary member.

Fine Gael’s Brian Walsh yesterday said he would not vote for abortion legislation which includes the threat of suicide as a grounds for termination. TD Peter Mathews and Senator Fidelma Healy Eames have indicated their opposition to proposed legislation.

European Affairs Minister Lucinda Creighton said legislating for suicide worries her and that psychiatrists say such a step has “no basis in medical evidence”.

However, despite weekend reports that at least 15 parliamentary members may jump ship if the X case is legislated for, Fine Gael sources played down such a scenario last night.

“It’s wildly exaggerated. We’re talking about single figures who may go overboard, maybe three to four,” said a source.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said he was “hopeful” the legislation would be ready tomorrow but that it could take another week or two.

Some Labour TDs at the weekend were quoted as wishing to go further than legislating for the X case. Conversations taped secretly with two Labour TDs last June have emerged.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin was quoted as saying legislating for the X case was a “starting point”, while Anne Ferris said if Labour secured a second term it “would go further” than the X case.