I know that most people have personal views on this matter. However, the Government is committed to ensuring that the safety of pregnant women in Ireland is maintained and strengthened. We must fulfill our duty of care towards them. For that purpose, we will clarify in legislation and regulation what is available by way of treatment to a woman when a pregnancy gives rise to a threat to a woman's life. We will also clarify what is legal for the professionals who must provide that care while at all times taking full account of the equal right to life of the unborn child.

Abortion remains a controversial issue around the world. In October the ECHR condemned [JURIST report] Poland's treatment of a 14-year-old rape victim who sought an abortion. Also that month Uruguay's president signed a bill to legalize abortion [JURIST report] in that country. In August South Korea's Constitutional Court ruled that the nation's 59-year-old ban on abortions is constitutional [JURIST report]. In April the Brazilian Supreme Court overturned the ban [JURIST report] against abortion of brain-damaged fetuses.