THE Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, intends to do nothing about abortion if his Government is reelected on June 6th.
He has ruled out both a referendum and legislation to deal with the implications of the Supreme Court's decision in the X case, which made abortion lawful in limited circumstances.
In an interview in today's Irish Times, Mr Bruton states that he is against abortion. "I think the most important objective has to be to reduce the number and occasions when Irishwomen seek abortions abroad. The most effective way we can reduce the rate of abortions is by counselling and support for women who have them so that they can take up the option of having their baby and doing so with the maximum support of the community". Ruling out another referendum, the Taoiseach says:
"I don't see the point of having another constitutional referendum because I cannot envisage a wording to which a Yes or No answer will be given. In any referendum, there has to be a Yes or No that would help to improve the situation or, in any sense, help to reduce the incidence of abortion."
In an apparent reference to the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Ahern, who has promised to deal with abortion by means of a referendum and legislation, Mr Bruton said he did not have any time for the view "that says that one is personally in favour of a referendum but doesn't know after that".
He said attempts in the past to have referendums had made the situation worse and had, in his view, increased the incidence of abortion rather than reduced it, both because of the legal complications that had ensued and the publicity that the option had got.
Asked if he believed that the Government should legislate for the X case, Mr Bruton replied: "No, I don't because I think in fact that would have an opposite effect to the one I wish to achieve. I don't think there is a case for that".
In the hardest hitting criticism of former Minister, Mr Michael Lowry, who described the Taoiseach as "my friend, my best friend forever", Mr Bruton says that he didn't think he should be standing for the Dail.
"I think Michael Lowry has let himself down. I don't think he should be standing for the Dail. I ask the people of North Tipperary to vote for Tom Berkery and give their No 2s to Kathleen O'Meara. But, obviously, it's his decision".
