Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I was glad to hear that this morning the Minister for Health brought to Cabinet the draft legislation to allow for a referendum to repeal the eighth amendment. This is a very welcome step, and we in Sinn Féin for our part hope this Bill will come before the Dáil at the earliest possible opportunity. In a tweet this morning, the Minister, Deputy Harris, said the referendum Bill will be finalised in the coming days and that he will publish the Bill on 6 March. If matters will be concluded in the coming days, why the delay until 6 March? Furthermore, will the Taoiseach clarify whether the referendum date will in fact be 28 May? The Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, intimated that it might drag into June. I wish to establish that it will in fact be a May referendum. I know many people who are following this debate closely are concerned about the date of the referendum, not least young voters and students-----

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