Citizen’s assembly on abortion is crucial, says Simon Harris

Health Minister Simon Harris has said a citizen’s assembly is still the way forward on the abortion debate, even as a call to repeal the Eighth Amendment was made during a live broadcast of the Rose of Tralee competition.

Simon Harris’s remarks also come after the journey taken by two Irish women to Manchester for an abortion over the weekend. The women tweeted about their journey, using the hashtag #twowomentravel, and received overwhelming support from the public.

Referring to the two women, Mr Harris said: “I felt it was appropriate and important, as minister for health, for me to acknowledge the fact that these were Irish citizens telling their story and telling of their experience.