Unborn babies suffering serious disabilities who are not likely to live beyond 28 days after birth will be eligible for abortion at any stage up to birth under the abortion bill being prepared by Minister Simon Harris. The provision for abortion in the case of so-called “fatal foetal abnormality” or babies with life limiting conditions was never clearly defined prior to this. In the draft scheme of the bill, the case was described by the phrase “likely to die shortly before or after birth” where, in legal terms, “likely” represents nothing more than a greater than 50% chance. The “shortly after birth” will now be defined as any time up to 28 days.

Minister Harris will bring the Heads of the Health (Regulation of the Termination of Pregnancy) Bill to Cabinet on Tuesday, for the approval of the Government.