Government figures have denied that Minister for Health Simon Harris was considering introducing an interim law on abortion before the result of the 8thamendment referendum was deemed legal by the courts. However, he does want to allow doctors to directly refer women for abortions in the UK before the final passage of abortion legislation before the end of the year.
Reports emerged this weekend that Mr Harris wanted to decriminalise abortion and enable in law women to have abortions whose unborn children have received a diagnosis of a life limiting condition, and that he would do so before court challenges to the referendum result have concluded.
Government sources say it will seek to implement one piece of legislation, which will not be introduced until after the referendum result has been ratified.
However, Mr Harris is intending to commence certain aspects of the legislation earlier than others.
“The Minister is specifically looking at two areas: the ability for a doctor to give information and refer, and the decriminalisation of women. He hopes that both issues could be addressed and commenced this year. Abortion services would then commence in January,” the source said.
