Howlin calls on Varadkar and Martin to commit to passing 8th legislation in this Dáil

27 May 2018

Let parties chose future election date if required says Labour Leader.

Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin has called on both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to allow the passage of the legislation to provide for legal terminations to be passed in the lifetime of this Dail, and for the Government to ensure debate begins in the Oireachtas before the summer.

Deputy Howlin said:

“The Cabinet will approve the process of drafting legislation on Tuesday, but I echo the calls of Together for Yes today that this should be progressed as quickly as possible this summer. The Dáil will sit until mid July providing significant time between now and then to progress this.

“It was also welcome to hear TDs who support retaining the 8th amendment indicating that they would not impede the passage of the legislation in light of yesterday’s results so delay will be limited.

“But it is imperative too that time be allowed to facilitate proper passage and scrutiny.

“Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael need to commit to seeing through on the people’s will whatever difficulties it may pose.  If that requires them to agree now on an election date in the future then what is what they should do.

“I would hope that the two months of the referendum campaign will have facilitated work on a draft bill and that the Minister for Health can move speedily from Tuesday to produce a published bill for the Houses to debate before the summer recess,

“As I said yesterday I believe that this process is a creation of this Dáil and should be completed in it. Our mandate is clear. We should complete this work before facing the people again. We do not want people re-elected in a General Election who might opportunistically argue that their mandate to impede the legislation has been in anyway refreshed.

“Now we need to get on with it. The people of Ireland have resoundingly spoken.”

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