The Fine Gael Chairman says he hopes the reservations of some TDs and Senators over the draft abortion legislation will be addressed. Over 5 hours of discussions took place between the Parliamentary Party members on the Heads of the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill last night.
The Fianna Fail parliamentary party will meet this afternoon to begin a detailed examination of the government proposed legislation.
The lengthy meeting of Fine Gael TDs and Senators Last night on the draft abortion legislation was calmer than discussions last week.
Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party Charlie Flanagan says it was a constructive engagement.
This afternoon the Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party will hold a meeting to consider its position on the Heads of the Bill.
The Oireachtas Health Committee is meeting in private today to agree its programme of hearings on the draft legislation which its Chairman Jerry Buttimer says could be concluded by the end of May.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Political Correspondent with the Irish Times Harry McGee said some Fine Gael TDs still have reservations about this draft legislation.
Meanwhile the Taoiseach has said the draft abortion legislation will give certainty and clarity to both pregnant women and medical professionals.
The proposals allow for terminations to be carried out if there is a risk to the life of a mother including the threat of suicide. The draft legislation proposes that in the case of a medical emergency, one doctor could grant a termination while if the woman is suffering from an illness two doctors would be required.
If there is a suicide risk, 3 doctors (an obstetrician or gynaecologist and two psychiatrists) would be needed to form an unanimous opinion.
Appealing a refusal
If the request is refused, there would be an appeals process under which another similar panel would have to also all agree before an abortion would be given. The Heads of the Bill also states that terminations could only be carried out in health care facilities that provides obstetric and mental health services.
The 33-page document will now be examined at the Oireachtas Health Committee over the coming weeks before being presented to the Dail and Seanad.
Implications of legislation
Women who are deemed to have undergone an illegal abortion could face criminal prosecution and up to 14 years in prison. The same penalty applies for any health facility or practitioner who carries out an illegal abortion.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny is insisting the measures would not result in a change of the law but rather a clarification of existing rights.
He says he wants the on-going debate on the draft legislation to be carried out in a considered and non divisive fashion.
Read the Protection of Life in Pregnancy Bill here
Various lobby groups both for and against abortion have also been giving their reactions to this draft legislation.
The Pro-Life Movement claims the Bill is not restrictive enough and that it would only take 3 pro-choice doctors to sign off on every request for an abortion on grounds of suicide.
While the Abortion Rights Campaign says it is outrageous that a pregnant woman who is feeling suicidal would be forced to be assessed by three doctors adding that the opinion of one doctor should be sufficient.
