Fine Gael is expected to decide its position on the Government's abortion referendum next Wednesday, following clarifications from the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
The party leader, Mr Michael Noonan, submitted a list of 34 questions on the implications of the Government's proposals to the Taoiseach last week, and a response is being drawn up. Reservations about the Government's intentions have been expressed by senior Fine Gael party members.
The Minister for Education, Mr Martin, said yesterday a detailed, considered response was being prepared and the Government hoped to be in a position to satisfy Fine Gael on the issues raised.
In an RT╔ interview, Mr Martin also expressed the hope that the Catholic Church would welcome the Government's referendum proposals and support them. The proposed legislation, he said, represented a significant statute in the legal banning of abortion.
The Minister also said consideration was being given to whether the Yes and No sides in the referendum campaign would be equally funded, as provided for by the McKenna judgement. A decision would, he said, be taken "closer to the event".
Responding to Labour Party claims that the abortion protocol in the Maastricht Treaty would have to be amended if the referendum was carried, Mr Martin said he saw no reason why this would have to happen as nothing in the proposed abortion referendum had a dimension in European law.
Later Mr Ruair∅ Quinn pointed out that the Minister's position conflicted with that adopted by a Government spokesman and he called again for the publication of the full legal advice that had been made available to the Government.
The Government's position was flawed, the Labour Party leader said, and he remained convinced it was heading for another legal and constitutional quagmire.
Meanwhile, a Progressive Democrats spokesman said the party would only agree to the holding of a referendum when there had been a complete airing of all the issues. It was hoped that would take place over the next few months but the party was anxious the issues would not be put to the public "on a take-it-or-leave-it basis, where people did not know what they were voting for". They didn't want to rush into it, he said. But once the legislation was passed, a referendum would have to be held between 30 and 90 days later.
A free vote is to allowed in the Dβil on the issue by the Progressive Democrats. And Minister of State Ms Liz O'Donnell was reported yesterday as favouring abortion in certain circumstances. The Minister told the Sunday Business Post she held a minority view within her party and in the Cabinet but said: "I am not there to legislate for my personal views."
Ms O'Donnell was in Tanzania on official business yesterday and could not be contacted.