Treatment of foetal abnormality ‘insensitive’

Treatment of foetal abnormality insensitive

Monday, July 22, 2013

By Shaun Connolly, Political Correspondent

A Fine Gael minister has hit out at the insensitive way women with pregnancies involving fatal foetal abnormalities are treated.

Tnaiste Eamon Gilmore has made it clear the party will push for a national poll to change the Constitution in order to allow terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities, rape and incest.

Ms Fitzgerald would not be drawn on whether Fine Gael would make such a move, insisting the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill was as far as the Coalition would go in this parliament.

A number of TDs pressed for fatal foetal cases to be included in the legislation, but Health Minister James Reilly insisted the matter did not fall within the bounds of the X-case ruling.

The Childrens Minister indicated that the matter would need to be dealt with in the future. Of course there are issues like fatal foetal abnormalities that I think that women in this country are being dealt with very insensitively at this moment in time, she told RT.

Ms Fitzgerald made it clear there would be no further legislation on abortion in the current Dil term after the turmoil provoked in Fine Gael ranks by the X-case issue.

However, Ms Fitzgerald said Labour could not claim credit for pushing through the legislation.

Read the original:
Treatment of foetal abnormality ‘insensitive’