Statement: Senator Bacik Welcomes Cabinet Agreement on Abortion Legislation

STATEMENT BY SENATOR IVANA BACIK

Labour Senator for Dublin University
Wednesday 1^st May 2013

SENATOR BACIK WELCOMES CABINET AGREEMENT ON ABORTION LEGISLATION

Senator Ivana Bacik today welcomed the publication of the heads of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, which will implement the X case and ensure compliance with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the December 2010 ABC case.

Senator Bacik said:

“The European Court ruled in the ABC case that we must have greater clarity in our abortion law, and that we must provide an ‘effective and accessible' procedure whereby the right to a life-saving abortion is put into effect. The legislation that we have now seen published as heads of a bill will provide such a procedure and will give greater clarity in our law for women and doctors. It has been drafted in a realistic manner which complies with our obligations to women both under the X case and under the ECHR judgment. I am glad that we are finally facing up to our responsibilities as legislators on this pressing issue.”

ENDS