Expert group report on abortion published

The Government has published the report of the expert group on abortion which favours legislation along with regulation as the safest way to provide legal clarity in the area.

The report was discussed by the Cabinet this morning.

Afterwards, Minister for Health James Reilly thanked members of the group for their contribution in bringing clarity to what he described as a complex and sensitive issue.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny yesterday ruled out a free vote for Fine Gael TDs in the Dáil on the issue of abortion.

The Dáil is to debate a motion from the Technical Group on abortion this week.

Arriving at Government Buildings this morning, Mr Kenny said the expert report concerns a matter that requires careful, calm and sympathetic consideration.

He said everyone in the Oireachtas will have an opportunity to have their say.

The Taoiseach added that the Government would like to deal with it quickly and comprehensively, when it is practical to do so.

He said that the Government parties are not divided over abortion and the matter is not for individual parties, but for the people of the country.

Mr Kenny said he wants maximum consensus on what is the best and correct thing to do, taking into account strong views on both sides of the argument.

The Taoiseach said that they recognise the need for legal certainty, reassurance and safety for women using the facilities of Ireland's maternity hospitals.

Elsewhere, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said it is important that women are clear on their legal entitlements and rights.

He also said that it is important that doctors are clear on their positions.

Mr Gilmore said the report gives a clear road map on how to proceed and the Government will discuss how to act on it.

On the issue of suicide, he said that the report is clear that there is a Constitutional position on this.

He said that there were legal cases surrounding that issue and the Government will proceed within the Constitutional and legal framework that exists.

Elsewhere, the report of the confidential Maternal Death Enquiry (MDE) in Ireland says that there were 25 maternal deaths for the period 2009-2011.

The report, which was published in August, found that two of these deaths were due to suicide.

On the issue of mental health illness, the report also says that stand-alone psychiatric units are poorly equipped to look after women with medical and obstetrical complications.

It says that the absence of a mother and baby unit is a continuing and regrettable deficiency in the Irish health services.

The organisation gives a maternal death rate of eight for every 100,000 maternities in Ireland for the years 2009-2010.

The CSO figure is half that rate at four deaths per 100,000 live and stillbirths.

MDE Ireland says that 40% of all maternal deaths occurred in women who were not born in Ireland.

The organisation, which uses wider collection criteria than the CSO, was set up in 2009.

It is funded and endorsed by the HSE and is based at the National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre in Cork.

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Expert group report on abortion published

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