What's next after Eighth Amendment report is published?

While the Oireachtas committee on the Eighth Amendment has published its report with a series of recommendations, many steps still need to be taken before the question of removing the article from the Constitution can be put to the people.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, his ministers, and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin are to examine the report and recommendations of the committee over Christmas before taking a stand on the matter.

While remaining silent on his own views, Mr Varadkar has already said ministers will be allowed “dissent” from supporting the option of repealing the Eighth Amendment once it comes before the Dáil for debate and a vote.

The Cabinet will meet on January 9 to discuss the report. While a conclusion may not be reached then, ministers will be expected to collectively agree a position on the referendum and on what regime would exist should the Eighth Amendment be repealed before it can reach the Dáil.

Only then will Cabinet members be allowed vote according to their conscience in the Dáil.

Mr Varadkar has also indicated that the Government intends on publishing the “general scheme of legislation” which would replace the current position if the referendum results in a repeal of the Eighth Amendment.

Before the committee published its report yesterday, Health Minister Simon Harris suggested the findings be used as the template for next year’s referendum.

Mr Harris said such a move would be “desirable” and “obviously makes sense”.

The report will also be discussed at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting on January 15.

The Fianna Fáil parliamentary party is also expected to examine the report at its first meeting of 2018.

The Dáil will return from its Christmas break on January 16, and politicians will be under pressure to discuss the matter as soon as possible given the tight time-frame.

Legislation to allow a referendum would have to be passed by around the end of January if a public vote is to take place in May.

If a June date for a referendum is to be selected, the Oireachtas would have until around mid-February to pass the required legislation.