Fianna Fáil TD claims Down Syndrome abortions will increase

Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Jim O’Callaghan has claimed that more pregnancies involving Down syndrome and disability diagnoses will be terminated if abortion is allowed in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Mr O’Callaghan made the claim as an Irish Examiner survey of Fianna Fáil’s 23-person front bench found that five favour unrestricted abortion access up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, nine have concerns or are opposed, and nine — including leader Micheál Martin — have yet to express a view.

On Wednesday, the Cabinet formally discussed the Oireachtas committee’s cross-party recommendations that the Eighth Amendment should be repealed and replaced with legislation allowing unrestricted abortion access in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.