Varadkar will not ‘long-finger’ abortion referendum

Former tánaiste Joan Burton has called for the abortion referendum to take place before the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland next year.

She said the vote should be held before the end of June 2018 to ensure it does not become “embroiled” in the papal visit later in the summer.

Former tánaiste Joan Burton said it would be “highly desirable if the Taoiseach could commit to holding the referendum shortly after March and perhaps before the middle of June 2018”.

She said in the Dáil that “it is appropriate for it to be held then because it should not become embroiled in the visit of the Pope to Ireland before the end of the summer”.

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The Pope is expected to visit Ireland for the Catholic Church’s world meeting of families festival which takes place in Dublin from August 22nd to 26th, 2018. The event is held every three years.

Difficult issue

“We want a respectful debate. It is a very difficult personal issue for huge numbers of people.”

She said that the people who campaign on the “ultra” sides of either side may have very clear views but many citizens will “want the opportunity to come to their conclusions about what is the most appropriate option”.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dáil he had "no interest in long-fingering" a referendum on abortion but he declined to give a firm commitment on a date.

He said the issue had been debated for a very long time. “I think people should have their say.”

He said he would have no difficulty in holding a referendum before the summer of next year if it was possible. “But I do not want to make a commitment in the House that that is possible and then suddenly have to come back into the House in March or April and say that it cannot be done for various reasons”.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said “there needs to be a sense of urgency about this”, and said “we need to know there will be no further foot dragging”.

Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said she hoped the referendum would respect the findings of the citizens' assembly which "came up with a decision to trust women".

Progressive

She asked about the possibility of a second “consultative” vote where people could have a say on the options put forward by the assembly.

Ms Coppinger said a plebiscite was considered in relation to public ownership of water. Otherwise people might not have an opportunity to have a say on the assembly’s “progressive” proposals.

The assembly recommended a referendum to change the article in the Constitution that prohibits abortion in almost all cases and if that is accepted, that the Oireachtas legislate to provide for the general availability of abortion in Ireland.

Mr Varadkar said the Oireachtas committee completing its deliberations on the citizens’ assembly report was the first step.

The committee will only start its “proper hearings” in September. “So I expect it will be near the end of the year before it is able to advise us on the potential wording of legislation.”

In parallel with that, he had asked the Attorney General and the Department of Health to pay attention to the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly and the deliberations of the Oireachtas committee.

This would be to ensure that when the committee presents its report, perhaps in November or December, “it does not suddenly arrive on the desk of the Attorney General or the Minister for Health and have them asking what it is all about”.

He was not attempting to circumvent the assembly but to ensure that “we are ready to have a referendum in 2018”.