The Tánaiste says he won’t be condemning either the Catholic church or the pro-life lobby for some of their input into the abortion debate.
Independent TD John Halligan has told the Dáil that politicians have been ambushed, spat at, and threatened with violence by some campaigners against the new abortion legislation – and they have been threatened with ex-communication by the Church.
But the Tánaiste has said the Government has a responsibility to hear all points of view and politicians should not "turn up the heat" on the issue.
Meanwhile,
The Taoiseach says the timing of the publication of the proposed abortion legislation – coming on the same day as the HSE report into the death of Savita Halappanavar, is purely coincidental.
Enda Kenny said the Government set out it’s plan before Christmas to legislate for the X Case following on from calls by the European Court of Justice to do so.
And he said that the HSE report is one of a number into Savita’s death in Galway University Hospital last year;
