On the same day that he took up his new post as Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar has confirmed that an abortion referendum will take place next year.
According to reports, the Taoiseach has chosen Minister for Health Simon Harris to take responsibility over legislation facilitating changes to the eighth amendment.
Labour TD Jan O’Sullivan was one of the first politicians to voice her thoughts on the move, commending the Taoiseach for his decision.
“In Dáil last night, I welcomed new Taoiseach’s tasking Simon Harris with organising referendum on 8th, and called on him to name early date,” she tweeted.
The news comes just days after a United Nations committee condemned the Republic of Ireland for its policy on abortion.
In Dáil last night I welcomed new Taoiseach's tasking Simon Harris with organising referendum on 8th and called on him to name early date
— Jan O'Sullivan (@JanOSullivanTD) June 15, 2017
The committee found that Ireland violated the human rights of a woman who travelled to Britain for an abortion, after her unborn child was diagnosed with fatal foetal abnormality.
The State has been ordered to pay compensation to Ms Siobhán Whelan, and to arrange psychological treatment for her.
Chief among the committee’s recommendations was to prevent other similar rights violations from occurring again – namely, by changing its legislation on abortion.
We will be following this story closely and will keep you updated as soon as a date is announced by the Taoiseach.
The announcement follows months of campaigning for the repeal of the eighth amendment.
What are your thoughts, mums? Be sure to let us know.
