Abortion legislation hearings to take place

Hearings on the possibility of legislating to allow for terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormality are expected to be held by a cross-party committee during the summer.

The Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children yesterday considered in private a written request from Labour senator and lawyer Ivana Bacik to hold public hearings on the matter.

Committee chairman Jerry Buttimer said afterwards it was agreed to put the matter on the committee’s agenda but he stressed no decision was made as to when the issue would be discussed or in what format.