All parties hopeful that abortion legislation can be passed swiftly

The government and opposition parties are both hopeful of being able to avoid having to use the ‘guillotine’ to pass the new abortion law after the decisive referendum result.

The bill to allow abortion without restriction up to the first 12 weeks of pregnancy will be open to amendments while it passes through five stages in both the Dáil and Seanad.

Both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin are not keen on using the guillotine –...