No referendum on abortion before election, Minister insists

A Government Minister said it is quite clear there will be no referendum on abortion before the next election.

The Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin was responding to a UN report which said Ireland's laws are "too restrictive" and unclear on the circumstances in which a termination can be carried out.

The UN Economic and Social Council said it is particularly concerned about the impact on women who cannot afford to travel abroad for abortions, and wants Ireland to take "all necessary steps" to allow wider access.

The findings followed two days of hearings on Ireland's rights regime at the committee in Geneva earlier this month.

However, Minister Howlin said it will not be on the Government's agenda.

"There will be no referendum of any description between now and the next general election - that's quite clear," he said.

He reiterated that Labour will put the repealing of the relevant article of the constitution - the eighth amendment - in the party's election manifesto, and would deal with the issue in the next Dáíl.