Abortion debate - Effect of North’s ruling

While we in the Republic are about to begin a debate on abortion, the High Court in the North has ruled that its restrictive laws on the subject violate human rights.

Unlike in other parts of the UK, abortions are banned in the North, except where the life or mental health of the mother is in danger.

The decision, while applicable only to the North, is bound to have persuasive judicial force south of the border.

In his judgement, Mr Justice Mark Horner ruled that laws governing the rights of women who are pregnant with fatal foetal abnormalities or who are pregnant as a result of sexual crime violate Article Eight of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has committed to establishing a constitutional convention to examine the issue.

Considering that current laws here are more restrictive than in the North, he and the Government face a further challenge in considering whether there should be a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution.