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Irish cabinet minister expected to vote against lifting abortion ban Irish cabinet minister expected to vote against lifting abortion ban
(2 months later)
An Irish cabinet minister is expected to vote against the historic introduction of limited abortion in Ireland.An Irish cabinet minister is expected to vote against the historic introduction of limited abortion in Ireland.
The final vote in the Dáil on Wednesday will take place around midnight after hours of debate on the protection of life during pregnancy bill.The final vote in the Dáil on Wednesday will take place around midnight after hours of debate on the protection of life during pregnancy bill.
The taoiseach, Enda Kenny, has offered to let the parliament sit beyond midnight but emphasised that the first chamber has to ratify the legislation.The taoiseach, Enda Kenny, has offered to let the parliament sit beyond midnight but emphasised that the first chamber has to ratify the legislation.
Before the debate, the Irish prime minister said: "There have been very few bills, probably, over the last 40 years that have had such extensive discussion and consultation and debate in the house."Before the debate, the Irish prime minister said: "There have been very few bills, probably, over the last 40 years that have had such extensive discussion and consultation and debate in the house."
He added: "I have no objection to extending the time again tonight, if that be necessary. I don't have any difficulty in dealing with it for that period … but I'm going to get rid of it this evening."He added: "I have no objection to extending the time again tonight, if that be necessary. I don't have any difficulty in dealing with it for that period … but I'm going to get rid of it this evening."
It is expected that the junior European minister Lucinda Creighton will vote against the bill and will lose the party whip in the process.It is expected that the junior European minister Lucinda Creighton will vote against the bill and will lose the party whip in the process.
Her fellow minister Leo Varadkar said it was not clear yet how many other members of Fine Gael could join her. Fine Gael, which has a strong rural base in conservative areas of Ireland, has come under the most pressure from anti-abortion groups over its willingness to allow for abortion in very limited circumstances.Her fellow minister Leo Varadkar said it was not clear yet how many other members of Fine Gael could join her. Fine Gael, which has a strong rural base in conservative areas of Ireland, has come under the most pressure from anti-abortion groups over its willingness to allow for abortion in very limited circumstances.
"I honestly don't know. It's reported in the media there are maybe three waverers," Varadkar said."I honestly don't know. It's reported in the media there are maybe three waverers," Varadkar said.
"We may lose one, we may lose two, we may lose three."We may lose one, we may lose two, we may lose three.
"As I said before, this is an issue that a lot of people feel very strongly about. In this case, there are a number of members of my party who feel that their very strongly held opinions on this are more important than the party pledge that they signed.""As I said before, this is an issue that a lot of people feel very strongly about. In this case, there are a number of members of my party who feel that their very strongly held opinions on this are more important than the party pledge that they signed."
He warned that Creighton may face an "uphill battle" to rejoin the party if she loses the whip.He warned that Creighton may face an "uphill battle" to rejoin the party if she loses the whip.
The bill will only allow for abortion when a woman's life is under threat if her pregnancy continues or if she is suicidal.The bill will only allow for abortion when a woman's life is under threat if her pregnancy continues or if she is suicidal.
Rightwing Catholic groups have attacked the legislation, claiming it will create a slippery slope towards outright legalisation of abortion.Rightwing Catholic groups have attacked the legislation, claiming it will create a slippery slope towards outright legalisation of abortion.
The law has also come under fire from leftwing Dáil deputies.The law has also come under fire from leftwing Dáil deputies.
The Socialist party TD Joe Higgins said the legislation was cowardly as serious issues such as fatal foetal abnormalities were "completely ignored". His amendments aimed to bring the focus on the "health of the pregnant woman", he said.The Socialist party TD Joe Higgins said the legislation was cowardly as serious issues such as fatal foetal abnormalities were "completely ignored". His amendments aimed to bring the focus on the "health of the pregnant woman", he said.
The independent TD Catherine Murphy said the bill was the absolute "bare minimum" and there would be "further tragedies". She questioned the amount of money spent by anti-abortion campaigners.The independent TD Catherine Murphy said the bill was the absolute "bare minimum" and there would be "further tragedies". She questioned the amount of money spent by anti-abortion campaigners.
The bill will not cover women whose babies will die shortly after birth from fatal foetal abnormalities and those who seek abortions for other reasons such as poverty. These women will continue to be forced to seek terminations at hospitals and clinics in Britain.The bill will not cover women whose babies will die shortly after birth from fatal foetal abnormalities and those who seek abortions for other reasons such as poverty. These women will continue to be forced to seek terminations at hospitals and clinics in Britain.
Ireland's near-total ban on abortion became the focus of international protests last year after the death of the Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar in a Galway hospital. Her husband, Praveen, said they had both requested an emergency termination after her body suffered septic shock but were refused an abortion by medical staff on the grounds that they detected a foetal heartbeat.Ireland's near-total ban on abortion became the focus of international protests last year after the death of the Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar in a Galway hospital. Her husband, Praveen, said they had both requested an emergency termination after her body suffered septic shock but were refused an abortion by medical staff on the grounds that they detected a foetal heartbeat.
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