Dáil motion on X Case defeated

A motion put forward in the Dáil this evening, calling on the Government to legislate for the X Case, has been defeated by 101 votes to 27.

United Left Alliance TD Clare Daly, who put forward the bill, said it could be amended at a later stage to take account of the recommendations of the Expert Group on Abortion.

But the Health Minister James Reilly described the bill as flawed and said the four options put forward by the expert group on abortion will now be debated and a bill will be put in place which has cross party support.

"The Irish people have made it clear they don't wish to have abortion on demand. Equally, it is clear to me that the great majority of our citizens regard the current position as unsustainable," Reilly said.

"We can't have a situation where there is any doubt about the rights of a woman to a lawful termination of pregnancy in certain clearly defined situations.

"That is what the judgement European Court of Human Rights calls for and that is what this government will deliver."