Joan Burton urges public forum on abortion

Sensitive issues around liberalising abortion laws should be dealt with in a public forum, Joan Burton said as she backed Enda Kenny’s pre-election stance on the Eighth Amendment.

The Tánaiste’s comments come as Fianna Fáil stressed it would not support moves for the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution — which protects the life of the unborn — to be dropped.

The Opposition party met last night to discuss its stance on abortion after remarks by the Taoiseach brought the matter back onto the agenda last week.