Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin has said that the Cabinet has "little or no freedom for manoeuvre on the nature" of the abortion referendum it has committed to hold.
He said media reports on the views of individual members of the Government serve no purpose. He tells us that they have "collectively supported a process to date and should continue to do so."
He insists that the Cabinet has to act as a "single entity in bringing" a proposal to the Oireachtas to hold a referendum as soon as possible.
Deputy Howlin told us: “While it is welcome that the Cabinet discussed the issue of the referendum at its meeting today (yesterday) for two hours, given the tight time frames we are now operating on, it should recognise that it has no scope or leeway to not put the substantive outcome of the Oireachtas Committee report to the people.
"There should be no divergence from what the Committee agreed on repeal simpliciter. Opening up a discussion on inserting new language in the Constitution has the potential to derail the progress made so far."
He adds: "The Government is the author of the approach involving the Citizen’s Assembly and the Oireachtas Committee. It is now effectively bound to put that proposal to the people in a referendum.
"And it should recognise this responsibility collectively. While individual cabinet members may have the leeway to vote or campaign on either side of the referendum proposal itself, I believe they are collectively duty bound to facilitate the holding of the referendum and should act accordingly.
"If new politics has been about the elevation of the role of Parliament then the Cabinet, as I say authors of this process, are bound to put the outcome of the Oireachtas Committee to the people.”
Despite the DUP's kicking and screaming, there can be little doubt that abortion reforms sweeping Ireland will have an impact North of the Border.
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The Irish government is being urged to ensure that women living in Northern Ireland are accommodated under the new legal framework that arises as a result of the referendum.
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The margin by which Yes won sends a "strong message of solidarity and destigmatisation" to Irish women, says Labour Youth who've welcomed the emphatic Yes win to remove the 8th Amendment of the Constitution
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The Dáil should hold special sittings through the summer months in order to legislate for the result of the referendum on repeal of the Eighth Amendment, says Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Health Stephen Donnelly TD
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Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are being urged to allow the passage of the legislation to provide for legal terminations to be passed in the lifetime of this Dail,
Read More Last night, exit polls predicted a landslide victory for the "Yes" side in the referendum to Repeal the 8th Amendment from the Constitution of Ireland. Those predictions have been resoundingly endorsed, with a majority of 2 to 1 in favour of Repeal..
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Over the coming days, as we move closer to an historic opportunity for the people of Ireland to get rid of an archaic part of the Constitution, we'll be sharing the words of singers, artists, filmmakers, authors and more, who are urging people to vote for Repeal.
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The referendum on the 8th Amendment seems to be finely balanced – to the extent that every possible ‘Yes’ vote counts. So let’s go out there – and collectively win it. Whichever way the result goes, we need to examine the performance of a variety of State agencies, on the run-in to the vote…
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Over the coming days, as we move closer to an historic opportunity for the people of Ireland to get rid of an archaic part of the Constitution, we'll be sharing the words of singers, artists, filmmakers, authors and more, who are urging people to vote for Repeal.
Read More Labour LGBT is calling on all in the LGBT community and beyond to vote yes to repeal the 8th Amendment next Friday, 25 May.
Read More Undecided voters are being urged to vote in favour of repealing the 8th Amendment.
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Over the coming days, as we move closer to an historic opportunity for the people of Ireland to get rid of an archaic part of the Constitution, we'll be sharing the words of singers, artists, filmmakers, authors and more, who are urging people to vote for Repeal.
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Authors Marian Keyes, Liz Nugent, Sinead Gleeson, Tara Flynn and Paula Meehan have joined forces to call on the Irish people to vote Yes in Friday’s referendum.
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The referendum on the 8th Amendment to the Constitution of Ireland takes place on Friday, May 25th. During the final week of the campaign, Hot Press is bringing you Home for Yes , a series of interviews with Irish emigrants scattered around the globe, who are returning to their native soil to Vote Yes. From Japan to Canada, England to America, we meet the heroes, who are travelling from far and wide in the name of social and political change. We salute them, and wish them Bon Voyage. See you in Ireland!
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Over the coming days, as we move closer to an historic opportunity for the people of Ireland to get rid of an archaic part of the Constitution, we'll be sharing the words of singers, artists, filmmakers, authors and more, who are urging people to vote for Repeal.
Read More Labour TD for Limerick City, Jan O'Sullivan is calling on the official No campaign to condemn the "callous use" of white crosses in Donegal.
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The referendum on the 8th Amendment to the Constitution of Ireland takes place on Friday, May 25th. During the final week of the campaign, Hot Press is bringing you Home for Yes , a series of interviews with Irish emigrants scattered around the globe, who are returning to their native soil to Vote Yes. From Japan to Canada, England to America, we meet the heroes, who are travelling from far and wide in the name of social and political change. We salute them, and wish them Bon Voyage. See you in Ireland!
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Over the coming days, as we move closer to an historic opportunity for the people of Ireland to get rid of an archaic part of the Constitution, we'll be sharing the words of singers, artists, filmmakers, authors and more, who are urging people to vote for Repeal.
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PROFESSOR LOUISE KENNY, an obstetrician who’s witnessed first-hand the fatal consequences of the 8th Amendment, has emerged as one of the Repeal campaign’s most persuasive voices. She talks to STUART CLARK about dirty tricks, religious dogma dressed up as expert medical opinion, and what needs to be done to secure a ‘Yes’ vote on May 25.
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Speaking at the launch of the latest Labour posters in the referendum to repeal the 8th Amendment, Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin said yesterday that only a Yes vote on the 25th May "can deliver a change to our laws, and ensure that our women are no longer exported, but treated with care and compassion in Ireland".
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A remarkable 1,200 Irish scientists have signed a letter calling for the Repeal of the 8th Amendment to the constitution – including many of our most eminent academics.
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The pop-up shop opened in Temple Bar last night with hundreds of people queuing in advance.
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Europe began to change in earnest in Paris, in 1968, when students and workers united in defiance of the French right, and in opposition to the dead hand of patriarchy. A lot has changed in Ireland in the interim – but Repealing the 8th is the next vital step towards freedom...
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Over the coming days, as we move closer to an historic opportunity for the people of Ireland to get rid of an archaic part of the Constitution, we'll be sharing the words of singers, artists, filmmakers, authors and more, who are urging people to vote for Repeal.
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Supporters of the Repeal movement once again showed their dedication and determination to the cause, as Temple Bar was packed out with queues for the relaunch of the limited REPEAL jumpers.
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The Government has outlined a series of measures planned to improve supports for women and reduce crisis pregnancies, as they continued their campaign for a Yes vote in the Referendum on May 25th.
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Bob Geldof, Tracey Thorn, Tom Dunne, Steve Walls, Nick Seymour and Sharon Horgan are encouraging men to stand by women and vote YES to repealing the 8th.
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Over the coming days, as we move closer to an historic opportunity for the people of Ireland to get rid of an archaic part of the Constitution, we'll be sharing the words of singers, artists, filmmakers, authors and more, who are urging people to vote for Repeal.
Read More With just nine days to go until Irish citizens will be voting on the removal of the eighth amendment from the Constitution, Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has said that voting Yes on May 25th is the only way to deal with so-called ‘hard cases’ and to show real compassion to women and their families.
Read More Opponents of the 8th Amendment have been battling for over 34 years to remove from the constitution a deeply insulting and paternalistic clause that equates the rights of a woman with those of an embryo. The hope is that honesty, reason and gentle persuasion can win the day. Oh, and a soupçon of home truths...
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Over the coming days, as we move closer to an historic opportunity for the people of Ireland to get rid of an archaic part of the Constitution, we'll be sharing the words of singers, artists, filmmakers, authors and more, who are urging people to vote for Repeal.
Read More With just than two weeks to go to the referendum on repealing the eighth amendment, Labour TD Jan O’Sullivan has said it is important that voters "keep women’s health at the forefront of their minds".
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Over the coming days, as we move closer to an historic opportunity for the people of Ireland to get rid of an archaic part of the Constitution, we'll be sharing the words of singers, artists, filmmakers, authors and more, who are urging people to vote for Repeal.
Read More By canvassing for a ‘Yes’ vote in the abortion referendum, women on both sides of the border will advance the cause of freedom in Northern Ireland, as well as the Republic.
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With just over a fortnight left to polling day, the artistic community and beyond is uniting to urge Irish men and women alike to vote yes.
Read More A statement reads:"It is with regret we announce that the below event (scheduled tomorrow, Friday 4th May) is postponed in light of the sad news that Monica Barnes has died.Thank you for your understanding."
Read More Members of the Fine Gael Party pressing for a yes vote in the upcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment will, this Friday morning, be joined by Fine Gael TDs of 1983 to discuss the need for repeal.
Read More The displaying of large images - purporting to show foetuses before abortion – is a new low in the ongoing referendum campaign, a Fine Gael TD has said.
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As the Repeal referendum comes into view, the No campaign's unscrupulous tactics have become apparent; Facebook still haven't addressed the abuse of their platform; Maser's Project mural has been removed; and the Catholic Church have reverted to their utterly predictable conservatism. You could say it's been an eventful fortnight.
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Jan O’Sullivan has referred the removal of Labour Party posters on the Referendum to Repeal the Eighth to the Gardaí in Limerick City.
Read More The removal of the Maser Repeal the 8th mural at the Project Arts Centre is being described as an "affront to democracy and freedom of expression".
Read More The Repeal the 8th movement has been strengthened by the news that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions is now vocally supporting the campaign.
Read More Labour Party spokesperson on Disability, Kathleen Lynch has welcomed Inclusion Ireland joining the Together for Yes civil society group to repeal the eighth amendment
Read More The Minister for Health, Simon Harris has announced a so-called "approval of the general scheme of the legislation" which the Government would propose if the 8th amendment is repealed.
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Simon Coveney now says he's publicly backing Repeal the 8th.
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The 'Eight-App' will keep users informed of upcoming events regarding the 'Repeal' movement.
Read More Minister of State Jim Daly, who is a "practising Catholic", says abortion is an "every-day reality" and legislators have a "duty of care to respond to the reality".
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Ireland is falling behind in its efforts to protect itself from cyber criminals and State sponsored cyber-warfare.
Read More After dragging its feet, the Government has confirmed that a referendum to repeal the Eight Amendment will be finally held in early summer.
Read More Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD has welcomed the decision to proceed with a referendum on the 8th amendment in May, but has said that Government needs to provide clear rationale for the departure from the recommendation of the Oireachtas Committee.
Read More A member of the Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment has called for the Taoiseach to unequivocally commit to holding a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment in the month of May.
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It's "imperative" that the Minister for Health brings in regulations to ensure that rogue crisis pregnancy agencies are no longer able to give dangerous advice to vulnerable women, urges Labour Party spokesperson on Health Promotion, Martina Genockey.
Read More The Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin, has called for an all-party approach in the Oireachtas on the passage of the abortion referendum bill.
Read More A new short film shows behind the scenes of the Citizens’ Assembly.
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If there is one thing that Philomena Canning of Midwives for Choice would like you to know, it's this: the 8th Amendment is not just about abortion.
Read More In an extraordinary war of words, Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin has publicly criticised his party colleague Peadar Tóibín for sensationally claiming that the Oireachtas Committee set-up to examine the Eighth Amendment law has shown favouritism towards the pro-choice stance.
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Seven vigils have been scheduled across various counties on October 28th to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the passing of Savita Halappanavar.
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