Shatter: Abortion bill not enough

The issue of abortion in cases where women are raped or are carrying a foetus that has no chance of survival, would have been dealt with years ago if there were more women in the Dáil, according to Justice Minister Alan Shatter.

He said proposed legislation allowing abortion in limited circumstances does not go far enough and will still leave between 4,000 and 5,000 women travelling abroad for a termination.

The Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill “will unfortunately and very sadly be of no assistance to women who are the victims of rape unless they are suicidal, and it will be of no assistance to women who have a pregnancy where there is a fatal foetal abnormality.”