Stagg Welcomes Decision To Legislate X Case

Deputy Emmet Stagg has welcomed the announcement by Cabinet today to introduce legislation and regulations to allow women to access their existing right to access abortion in cases where her life is at risk.

Deputy Stagg said: "Today, the Labour Party in Government has delivered on a core Labour policy commitment to legislate for the X case.

"The Labour Party, along with its coalition partner Fine Gael, has committed to publishing legislation with regulations for the X case. This will protect the lives of mothers where there is a real and substantial risk of life, including the threat of suicide, where up to now there has been an unacceptable grey area.

"This commitment is particularly welcome as it comes nearly 21 years after the X case and three decades since the referendum introducing the 8th amendment. This welcome decision to legislate for the X case has been driven by the Labour Party and the result will give effect to women's constitutional rights.

"Labour has campaigned for over twenty years on the need to legislate for the X case and I am relieved and proud that we will finally see the implementation of the Supreme Court judgement, a European Court of Human Rights judgement and the results of two referendums.

"Indeed, Labour was the only Political Party to state a commitment to act on the X case in our manifestos in recent years – from the most recent General Election in 2011, and in 2007 and 2002. This was not always an easy position to take on the doorsteps for our candidates or our grassroots members. But it was the right position to take.

"I look forward to the Government acting swiftly and to bringing forward legislation to the Oireachtas as soon as possible. I believe that this government will implement the X case ruling in full, and as such any legislation will be about protecting the life of the mother, including the risk of suicide. We cannot continue to take an a la carte approach to vindicating women's rights."

(CD)