Changes to abortion laws will be debated in the Dáil in April, as independent and small party TDs introduce a motion this week calling for legislation to give effect to the X-case judgment.
Last Friday marked the 20-year anniversary of a High Court ruling preventing a 14-year-old girl from leaving the country to terminate her pregnancy.
The ruling was overturned two weeks later by the Supreme Court, which ruled that when a woman’s life is in danger, including from suicide, she has the right to travel to terminate a pregnancy.
The National Women’s Council of Ireland said yesterday it was "shameful" that some six consecutive governments have failed to legislate on abortion.
Spokesperson for NWCI Orla O’Connor said: "It’s a violation of women’s rights that in 2010, over 4,000 women had to make the journey out of Ireland to have an abortion. That’s 12 women every day."
The European Court of Human Rights ruled last year that the rights had been violated of a woman with cancer, known as ‘C’, who had to travel out of Ireland for an abortion.
In November, the Government announced it was setting up an expert group to report in six months, on how to deal with the judgment.
Ms O’Connor said the National Women’s Council is calling on the expert group to "recommend immediate drafting of legislation to give effect to the X-case".
She said even if Ireland did legislate for the X-case, it would still have one of "the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe."
Socialist TD Clare Daly, along with Independent TD Mick Wallace and other members of the United Left Alliance, will introduce legislation in the Dáil next week which is expected to be debated as a private members’ motion in April.
"There will be a vote in the House on this," Ms Daly said.
"It will give an opportunity to deputies who say that they believe this is a hugely important, human rights issue, to stand up and be counted," said the Dublin North TD.
"While we welcome statements that the Government parties are willing to look at it, to be honest it’s not good enough."
Dublin West TD Patrick Nulty, who was expelled from the Labour Parliamentary Party in December because he voted against budget measures, is calling on his party to deliver on its promise to legislate for the X-case ruling.
"This Oireachtas has the opportunity to finally take responsibility to legislate responsibly and to ensure that Irish law is put in a position where vulnerable women are able to avail of their rights as set out by the Supreme Court," he said.
Waterford Labour TD Ciara Conway is the only Government backbencher to have joined a new campaign group "Action on X Alliance" calling for legislation on abortion.
The group is organising a public meeting on the issue, which will take place on Tuesday in Dublin’s Gresham Hotel.
The ruling was overturned two weeks later by the Supreme Court, which ruled that when a woman’s life is in danger, including from suicide, she has the right to travel to terminate a pregnancy.
The National Women’s Council of Ireland said yesterday it was "shameful" that some six consecutive governments have failed to legislate on abortion.
Spokesperson for NWCI Orla O’Connor said: "It’s a violation of women’s rights that in 2010, over 4,000 women had to make the journey out of Ireland to have an abortion. That’s 12 women every day."
The European Court of Human Rights ruled last year that the rights had been violated of a woman with cancer, known as ‘C’, who had to travel out of Ireland for an abortion.
In November, the Government announced it was setting up an expert group to report in six months, on how to deal with the judgment.
Ms O’Connor said the National Women’s Council is calling on the expert group to "recommend immediate drafting of legislation to give effect to the X-case".
She said even if Ireland did legislate for the X-case, it would still have one of "the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe."
Socialist TD Clare Daly, along with Independent TD Mick Wallace and other members of the United Left Alliance, will introduce legislation in the Dáil next week which is expected to be debated as a private members’ motion in April.
"There will be a vote in the House on this," Ms Daly said.
"It will give an opportunity to deputies who say that they believe this is a hugely important, human rights issue, to stand up and be counted," said the Dublin North TD.
"While we welcome statements that the Government parties are willing to look at it, to be honest it’s not good enough."
Dublin West TD Patrick Nulty, who was expelled from the Labour Parliamentary Party in December because he voted against budget measures, is calling on his party to deliver on its promise to legislate for the X-case ruling.
"This Oireachtas has the opportunity to finally take responsibility to legislate responsibly and to ensure that Irish law is put in a position where vulnerable women are able to avail of their rights as set out by the Supreme Court," he said.
Waterford Labour TD Ciara Conway is the only Government backbencher to have joined a new campaign group "Action on X Alliance" calling for legislation on abortion.
The group is organising a public meeting on the issue, which will take place on Tuesday in Dublin’s Gresham Hotel.
The meeting will be addressed by journalist Vincent Browne.