Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Given the political instability and the political crisis created by the Taoiseach's Government, there is huge anxiety about legislation to allow a referendum to be held to repeal the eighth amendment. I have received a huge amount of correspondence on the issue. People were fearful that the Taoiseach's willingness to place one woman's career above all women's rights would lead to a referendum not being held in May and we are not out of the woods yet as the Government is on its last legs. In order to ensure there will be a vote in favour of repeal in May - last week thousands of young people registered to vote - does the Taoiseach agree that a couple of things need to be done? To meet the deadline we need an immediate vote at the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution and to swiftly enact a Bill in the Dáil to allow for a referendum to be held to repeal the eighth amendment. I have a Bill here and it could not be simpler. It should not take long to deal with it. It was done in the case of the banks and now needs to be done for women. If a vote does not take place and the Bill is not speeded through the Dáil, my fear is that, if the Government collapses in January, we will not have a referendum to repeal the eighth amendment. As I said, tens of thousands of young people have registered to vote. Will the Taoiseach ensure a vote in favour of repeal will take place swiftly at the committee, leaving aside other issues for now, and that the Bill will be passed through the Dáil?

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