Abortion debate must focus on law

Colm Keaveney says serious issues raised by the proposed abortion bill are not being properly debated

THE public debate around the proposed Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill has focused far too little on the contents of the bill but instead has focused on the general issue of abortion with the debate reduced to the usual exchange of slogans.

Legislators are not medical or legal experts but it is our duty to inform ourselves of the issues involved by listening to testimony from such experts, taking the views of those we represent into account and then coming to a considered judgement on the matter.