Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has admitted that he would be “reluctant and uncomfortable” to make “major” changes to abortion legislation.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin also expressed reservations over changing the laws so soon after the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment was passed in 2018,
A review of Ireland’s abortion services will go to Cabinet next Tuesday. It will contain up to 10 legislative changes and up to 60 operational recommendations.
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It is understood that one of the recommendations will focus on removing the three day waiting period for people who want to terminate their pregnancy.
As the law currently stands, a pregnancy can be terminated up to 12 weeks and this must be certified by a doctor.
There must be at least three days between being certified and having the abortion procedure to allow a person to decide if they want to go ahead with the procedure.
It is understood that the review by barrister Marie O’Shea recommends making the three day reflection period option.
Speaking at two separate events in Cork on Friday, both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste expressed reservations about changing he abortion legislation just five years after the Repeal referendum.
Mr Varadkar stated that when the issue went to referendum in 2018, the Government “said that there would be safeguards” while they were campaigning for a "yes" vote.
“That included things like the waiting period, including things like the protection of conscientious objections,” he said.
“I have to say, I, for one, would be reluctant and uncomfortable to make any major legislative changes so soon after that referendum.
“This is a matter that people will be able to make up their own minds on. But that's certainly my feelings about it at the moment.”
Mr Varadkar said that the Cabinet will agree to publish the review on Tuesday and it will then be discussed by the Health Committee.
This, he argued, would allow debate over any changes to the legislation.
However, he repeated that he campaigned for a yes vote no the "basis that there were safeguards" and a "situation whereby abortion in Ireland was safe, legal and rare".
These comments were repeated by the Tánaiste, who said that the Government is “mindful of what we said to the people some years ago during the referendum as to what the framework would be for the provision of services”.
However, Mr Martin said that if a “fair argument” is made on some of the issues they will be considered.
He added: “In my view, the referendum has passed, legislation has been enacted and as a basic minimum requirement public hospitals should provide that which was legally provided for.”
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