Cabinet agree on draft abortion bill
The Cabinet has signed off on draft abortion laws - including the controversial proposal on suicide.
Three medical professionals will have to agree that a woman is suicidal because of the pregnancy and that there is a risk to her life.
It took two hours of discussion at a special meeting of the Cabinet tonight in addition to discussions this morning.
Fine Gael and Labour have now agreed the heads of the Protection of Maternal Life Bill.
Ministers from both parties signalled earlier this evening that there was in fact no differences between them at Cabinet level.
Full details of the measures proposed - including the issue of suicide - will be revealed by the Health Minister shortly.
Discussions will then begin with the Oireachtas Health Committee on the draft legislation before it goes back to Cabinet to be finalised.
Fine Gael backbenchers will spend tonight and tomorrow pouring over the legislation to see if they can support it.
