Labour TD Mr Michael D.Higgins has described the Government's proposed referendum as "seriously flawed" because if passed, Irish women would have the right to travel to Britain for an abortion yet would be punishable by a 12-year prison sentence if they had a termination here.
Mr Higgins said the referendum was flawed, dangerous and unnecessary and was based on a twisted logic which was an insult to all citizens and to women and the psychiatric profession in particular.
He was speaking at a Labour Party press conference in Galway yesterday to call for a No vote next Wednesday.
Mr Higgins said he was deeply distressed by the comments made recently by Prof Anthony Clare and Prof Patricia Casey. Their political support for the amendment was dressed up to appear as a definitive scientific assessment while it was nothing of the sort. "The Government has deliberately misled the people about this referendum. The Government's claim that this referendum would fully safeguard the use of the morning after pill has been exposed as a fraud."