Labour Party will pursue abortion referendum 'very vigorously', says Minister

Communications Minister Alex White has said that the Labour Party will vigorously pursue a referendum to repeal the eighth amendment.

Children's Minister and Deputy leader of Fine Gael James Reilly is calling for an abortion referendum to be held early in the term of the next Government.

Both pro-choice and anti-abortion groups are calling for politicians to declare their views on the issue ahead of the next General Election.

In September, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said a referendum would not be called by Fine Gael until a replacement for the eighth amendment is carefully considered.

The eighth amendment gives equal right to life to a mother and her unborn child.

Minister White said that Labour's policy on repealing the eighth amendment is clear.

"If people are upset or affected by that whole issue that faces women, Irish women, in this country, and believe it should be possible for it to be addressed in their own country, we will have to repeal the eighth [amendment]," he said.

"And I think James Reilly is right about that - it's a position advocated by Joan Burton and the Labour Party for some time.

"If we're in the next Government, it will be one that we'll be pursuing and pursuing very vigorously."