Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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33. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to deal with terminations of pregnancy in cases of fatal foetal abnormality. [8043/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware Article 40.3.3 of the Irish Constitution states that: 'The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.'

A referendum would be required to amend the Constitution so that terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormality would be lawful. However, I do believe that this matter should be dealt with in the 32nd Dáil and that is a position I will be advocating within my party and elsewhere.

Finally I wish to extend my sympathy to any family that has to experience it and I would like to take this opportunity to remind everybody that supports are available for women experiencing a crisis pregnancy through the HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme.