On 25 November 1992, a referendum will be held in Ireland on three aspects of abortion legislation relating to suicide, freedom to travel and access to information.
The Fianna Fáil Democratic Left coalition government led by Taoiseach Albert Reynolds outlines the proposals it will legislate for if the referendum is rejected by the people.
The proposals are based on the Supreme Court's judgement in the X-case nine months earlier which allowed for limited abortion. The government would set up a certification process to make sure an abortion could only take place on the grounds set out by the court.
...for a specified number of consultants in approved hospitals to certify that there was a real and substantive risk to the life of the mother which could not be resolved by any other reasonable means other than termination of pregnancy.
There has been a strong reaction from a number of groups to these proposals. However, the Minister for Justice Padraig Flynn believes this will never be necessary and says the way to stop abortion is for the people to vote yes in the referenda.
We're asking people to vote yes to the right to life but what we're saying is that the situation that exists at present is that abortion exists in Ireland tonight because of the Supreme Court judgement.
Abortion opponent Senator Des Hanafin and Ailbhe Smyth of the Alliance for Choice set out their opposing views on the proposals.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 18 November 1992. The reporter is Lorna Donlan.
