Pro-choice campaigners fear that Ireland’s next government, which is still to be formed after inconclusive elections in February, will rule out a referendum on reforming the country’s strict abortion laws in an attempt to build parliamentary support.



With the two largest parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, locked in negotiations over the formation of a minority administration in Dublin, there is concern that some rural, conservative-minded independent MPs will demand that a referendum is excluded from any future programme.

Some independents will oppose any move towards a referendum, while Fianna Fáil will also face internal opposition to backing a national vote on the issue.

“I think it is highly unlikely that anything so contentious will be pursued by the next government,” said Shane Ross, an independent MP for the Dublin Rathdown constituency.

Irish pro-choice campaigners want to repeal the 8th amendment, which gives an embryo after conception full citizen’s rights, and which was tacked on to the Republic’s constitution after a referendum in 1983.



Those in favour of reforming Ireland’s abortion laws, including couples who were unable to obtain terminations in Irish hospitals even though their babies would be born dead, argue that nothing can happen until the 8th amendment is repealed. This can only be done through a referendum.



The campaign group Terminations for Medical Reasons Ireland said it was “disturbing” that some men elected to parliament in February’s general election were vehemently opposed to granting the Irish people the right to a referendum on the issue.



Gerry Edwards, a spokesman for TMFRI, said: “Do they really believe that their own constituents are not affected by pregnancies with fatal foetal anomalies? Is it not better that these women make their decisions in consultation with their doctors rather than politicians.”



Edwards and his wife, Gayle, lost their first son to anencephaly (the absence in a baby of a part of the brain, skull or cap) in 2001. Joshua Edwards was delivered following an induced labour in a Belfast hospital, and after he was cremated his remains were returned to his parents by courier.



Edwards added: “I am a father of four myself and I would never contemplate forcing any of my daughters to continue with a pregnancy against her will in these circumstances. Would these men? If they would not, by what moral authority do they think they can treat other people’s daughters in this way?”



The Repeal the Eighth campaign also condemned the influence of a number of independent MPs in blocking moves toward a referendum.



Campaigner Ailbhe Smyth said: “At a time when the vast majority of people feel that their views on abortion should not be imposed on others, a handful of independent TDs are attempting to do just that.



“Public opinion is clear and there is cross-party support for addressing this issue. What we need now are political leaders who will not sacrifice women for the sake of a small group whose views are completely out of line with public opinion.”



Pro-choice campaigners have argued that there is a major “chill factor” hanging over medical teams even in cases affected by a law passed in 2013 allowing terminations in very limited circumstances. There is widespread concern that anti-abortion activists would invoke article 8 to argue that a termination would violate the constitutional rights of the foetus.



The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act allows for abortion when continuing with a pregnancy would result in the mother’s death, or in cases where the woman is suicidal. Despite this legislation, women who are victims of rape and in many cases those who are suicidal are still refused abortions in Irish hospitals. The law introduced two years ago also imposes a jail sentence of 14 years for any member of a medical team that carries out a termination beyond those limited exceptions.



Ireland’s Fine Gael-Labour coalition government was punished by voters on 26 February in an election that left no party with a majority in parliament. Fine Gael’s rivals Fianna Fáil have repeatedly said they want a “political ceasefire” that would allow Fine Gael to cobble together a minority administration propped up by independent MPs.