Few TDs offer alternative to 12th-week proposal

Just five of the 54 TDs opposing unrestricted access to abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy, regardless of future changes, have an alternative to the potential new law if the referendum is passed.

A poll of all 158 TDs by the Irish Examiner in recent days shows that just a handful of those opposed to the potential new law are willing to put forward another option in the event that the constitution is changed.

According to a detailed survey published in yesterday’s Irish Examiner, 57 TDs are currently in favour of the potential 12-week rule, 26 are undeclared, and 75 currently oppose it — including two Sinn Féin members saying they will remain opposed even if the party, as predicted, changes its policy to support the 12-week rule.