Minister Will Vote Against Repeal

29.01.2018

Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan has said he will not support the repeal of the Eighth Amendment because there is too much legal uncertainty of what would happen as a result.Mr O'Donovan was speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics the day before a special Cabinet meeting to make a final decision on how to proceed with the expected referendum on the Eighth Amendment.

Mr O'Donovan said he supports the holding of a referendum and while he will wait to see what is proposed, his view is that he will not support repealing the Eighth Amendment because it leaves too much uncertainty about what happens to the right to life of the unborn, acknowledged in the 1983 amendment. He said he expects this issue will eventually have to be determined by the Supreme Court.

The junior minister also said that they are being asked to go with a piece of legislation now but have no idea what a future Oireachtas could decide.

RTÉ. January 29.