The Taoiseach has been accused of being “excessively cautious” over the abortion issue.
Speaking on this evening’s The Right Hook, former Justice Minister and Progressive Democrat leader Des O’Malley said he feels the Taoiseach is overestimating the response to an abortion referendum today, and that it would be very different to the debate that surrounded the issue in the 1980s.
“I think he’s excessively cautious, the Taoiseach, in saying what he said. I think the degree of convulsion you would get in the country now would only be a small fraction of what we experienced in the 1980s,” Mr O’Malley said.
“It is 32 years now since that amendment was passed and I think people will take a more balanced and more mature view of these problems now.”
Earlier today Enda Kenny said the country could not be allowed to go back to the 1980's and be 'convulsed' for years by the abortion debate.
He said that while issues of pregnancy in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities, rape and incest are all “sensitive” and “controversial” matters which will be dealt with by the next Government.
TDs last night voted against a bill on abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities, put forward by Clare Daly.
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have said the proposed legislation was unconstitutional, following advice from the AG.
Mr O'Malley says the while the Government may “frequently be wise to follow the legal advice they’re given” that does not mean is “bound to” that advice and can sometimes act in spite of advice from the Attorney General.
“Governments are able to take a view on a matter, there may well be more important factors involved than simply the legal factors alone,” Mr O’Malley said.
