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08th Sep 2018

Simon Harris confirms that abortion legislation will be introduced within weeks

Kate Demolder

Level 4 Simon Harris

He hopes that the bill will come before the Dáil in October.

Minister for Health Simon Harris has confirmed that legislation regarding the recently repealed Eighth Amendment will make its way to the Dáil within weeks.

Speaking outside the John F. Kennedy Summer School in New Ross, Wexford on Saturday, the Health Minister revealed that the Bill is currently being finalised prior to being presented to parliament.

Harris, who was scheduled to speak at the event, made reference to the Eighth Amendment campaign a number of times during his speech, in particular, the cross-generational work on the campaign for a Yes vote and those who travelled a great distance to be ‘home to vote’.

The Referendum Bill is expected to be signed by President Higgins next week following the Supreme Court’s ruling to block any further legal challenges to the result.

Just this week, a Dublin woman’s appeal to challenge the result of the referendum was refused by the Supreme Court, a decision with which Harris revealed he was pleased.

“The people of Ireland spoke very clearly on this matter in May and they gave an instruction to myself and my colleagues in the Oireachtas to change the law and make sure we can care for women in our own country with compassion,” he said.

“That’s exactly what we now intend to do.”

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