Statement: Senator Bacik welcomes announcement that Expert Group on ABC Judgement will be set up

STATEMENT BY SENATOR IVANA BACIK

Labour Seanad Group Leader
Thursday 16th June, 2011

SENATOR BACIK WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT THAT EXPERT GROUP ON ABC JUDGMENT WILL BE SET UP

Senator Ivana Bacik today welcomed the announcement that an Expert Group would be set up on the ABC judgment, and called on the Government to ensure that this Group would work within a tight timeframe to report back on the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgment in the ABC case.

Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Bacik said:
“I believe that it is time we as legislators grasped the initiative on the issue of abortion and ensured that the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights is implemented without delay. I hope that the Expert Group will be established soon, and that it is given a tight timeframe within which to report back.

“I am glad that the Government is submitting an action plan to the Council of Europe today as required, but I am conscious that, as Anne Ferris TD has said yesterday, that for far too long we have neglected the real health needs of women in Ireland and failed to face up to the reality of abortion in this country. The people have voted twice in separate referendums (in 1992 and again in 2002) to uphold the decision of the Supreme Court in the X case, and it is high time that we legislated to provide for the conditions under which lawful abortions may be performed here.”

ENDS