‘Bill should have dealt with cases of fatal foetal abnormalities’

A Fine Gael TD has spoken about his disappointment that proposed laws allowing abortion in limited circumstances will still force women to travel abroad for a termination if they are carrying a foetus that has no chance of survival after birth.

Andrew Doyle said he would have preferred if the legislation did not include the suicide grounds for abortion, but dealt with cases of fatal foetal abnormalities.

The Wicklow TD asked the James Reilly, the health minister, to clarify the legal position on whether terminations could be constitutional in cases where there is a “diagnoses beyond all doubt” that a foetus is incompatible with life outside the womb.