Abortion laws - Our greatest moral dilemma

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has proven himself to be a man of both courage and conviction when it comes to addressing the most controversial topics in Irish society.

Mr Varadkar probably did Taoiseach Enda Kenny no favours when he declared to the Dáil on Tuesday his belief that Ireland’s abortion laws are too restrictive, hinting at a referendum to repeal them.

He will probably find little public support, either, from his Fine Gael parliamentary colleagues who are still suffering convulsions over the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.

Mr Varadkar insisted that while he viewed the existing regulation as having a “chilling effect” on doctors, he didn’t want to see abortion on demand in Ireland.

Speaking in the Dáil on a private members’ bill tabled by Independent TD Clare Daly, Mr Varadkar outlined his position on the eighth amendment to the Constitution which gives equal rights to the mother and the unborn and he advocated a more liberal abortion regime.

He noted that, “while it protects the right to life of the mother, it has no regard for her long-term health”.

Considering that more than 4,000 Irish women travel to the UK every year for abortions — many of them late term — it is about time that we addressed this issue once and for all with both honesty and compassion.