Drafting of Abortion Law in Ireland to Proceed Despite Court Challenge

Concluding all possible legal avenues by early July will be extremely difficult

by Pat Leahy
The Irish Times

The Department of Health will continue to draft abortion legislation and make preparations for the introduction of abortion services while a court challenge to the result of the referendum proceeds.


The Government still hopes to table legislation in the Dáil before the summer recess, currently scheduled for July 12th or 13th. That would enable the committee stage of the Bill to take place in September before the Dáil returns, meaning that the legislation could be through the Dáil by late September.


However, the Government concedes that this timetable is dependent on the legal challenges to the referendum result being concluded before mid-July – a schedule that several high-ranking legal sources have told The Irish Times would be very rapid.


Three High Court challenges to the referendum result have been lodged and are due to be considered in the first instance next Monday. All allege various irregularities in the conduct of the referendum campaign and the casting of ballots. However, even if – as legal and political sources expect – the High Court rejects the challenges, an appeal would take a number of weeks at the very least.



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National Hotline: Call 1-800-712-HELP or Text 'HELPLINE' to 313131.
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