Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In its refusal to support the Bill the Government is hiding behind the legal advice the Attorney General has supposedly provided. Like many of us, I would love to see that advice. Senator Black has released her legal advice received on the Bill. The legal basis of the Bill and its compatibility with EU law are detailed in the legal opinions of Mr. Michael Lynn, senior counsel; Professor James Crawford and, most recently, Professor Takis Tridimas. Last year the Government published a summary of the Attorney General's advice on why it should opt for repeal of the eighth amendment. The Tánaiste should now publish a summary of the Attorney General's advice on this Bill in order that all parties would see the legal perspectives and make up their own minds. I am in no doubt that the Bill is fully compliant with EU trade rules and that we should pass it urgently. Let us not forget that South African goods, produced under a system of apartheid, were banned from Ireland in 1987 after a long campaign by Irish workers and anti-apartheid activists. That was done despite the advice of the Attorney General that it was not possible under then EEC trade rules. The Government should drop its opposition to the Bill and join all members of the Opposition in supporting this important legislation.

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