Hanafin approves referendum plan

In an initial response to the Government’s new abortion referendum plan, veteran pro-life campaigner Des Hanafin said Mr Ahern had honoured his commitment to have a nationwide vote on the issue.

He added: ‘‘I have to say on first sight that I believe it is workable. But our medical and legal people will have to take a look at it.’’

Mr Hanafin claimed it had been ‘‘traditional’’ for mothers never to be denied necessary treatment for an illness, even if it brought about the unwanted death of the child.

Resistance to the referendum plan was quickly signalled, though, by the Labour party.

Labour leader Ruairi Quinn said: ‘‘We will oppose the plan in Parliament and call for a ‘No’ vote if it is put to the people.

‘‘The sole effect of this Bill is to dilute the constitutional right to life of pregnant women by limiting the grounds on which they can avail of medical procedures in Ireland.’’

Mr Quinn said the proposal for a referendum was ‘‘misguided and divided, and legally flawed’’.

Crucial backing, however, came from the Progressive Democrats party.

The party’s Liz O’Donnell said: ‘‘It is our hope that this will provide a balanced framework and context for a reasoned, clear and broad consensus to develop.’’

She also referred to the ‘‘many thousands’’ of Irish women who travelled to Britain for abortions each year.

Earlier, Mr Ahern reported that an average of 18 women had terminations in Britain each day of the year.