Daly: Government attitude to abortion Bill 'a cop out'

Independent TD Clare Daly has said that the Government's position that her abortion bill is unconstitutional is a "cop out".

It is based on the advice of the Attorney General, which Labour TDs and Senators will be briefed about at a meeting today.

Deputy Daly's Bill proposes that abortion be allowed in cases where a fatal foetal abnormality has been diagnosed.

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Deputy Daly believes that her proposals would be passed if a free vote was held.

"I think this is an interesting cop-out really by the Government, because they can't say whether it's constitutional or not, unless the matter is tested by the High Court or the Supreme Court," she said.

"What they have is an opinion of the Attorney General.

"Now, obviously it is the Attorney General's job to advise Government - but they can get it wrong."

Sinn Féin's Deputy Leader said the Government should release the Attorney General's legal advice on the bill.

Mary Lou McDonald said that while Sinn Féin is abstaining on this issue, TDs should be given maximum clarity on the matter at hand.

"This advice is offered in the spirit of clarifying a key issue of public policy," she said. "I hope the Government will … release that advice to all of us."

Meanwhile, the Pro-Life Campaign said the alternative viewpoint - choosing to carry the pregnancy to term - was not being heard in the debate.

"The countless stories from Irish families whose babies were given diagnoses of terminal illness and their experiences of giving birth to, living with and then grieving their babies' passing must be heard in this debate. That simply is not happening at present," said Dr. Ruth Cullen of the PLC.

"Those pushing this Bill have completely failed to address alternatives to abortion and the need for a dedicated peri-natal hospice in Ireland for families who find themselves in these deeply difficult situations."