The Minister for the Environment has set Wednesday 6 March as the date for the abortion referendum after the High Court rejected a challenge to the poll.
Fine Gael has said they will vigorously oppose the measure, and Labour claimed tonight that the timing had its roots in political horse-trading.
The date was set this evening after the High Court dismissed an attempt by two Trinity College students to stop the Government from naming a date. The students have said they will appeal the ruling.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly said that the proposition was properly being placed before the people and the people ought now be able to give approval or otherwise without the interference of the court.
