Simon Harris planning Eighth Amendment referendum in 2018

A referendum on the Eighth Amendment may take place next summer, judging by comments made by the Minister of Health today.

Speaking to RTÉ News at One today, Simon Harris said that it is essential that his department starts to prepare for a referendum now with the hopes of holding the national vote next summer. Harris said that he is fully aware of the multitude of work that needs to be done before this can happen but it is his personal preference that the referendum takes place in the summer of 2018. However, although he is in favour of this going ahead, the "practicalities" of ensuring this happens are a " matter for the special Oireachtas committee's work". The Eight Amendment states:

"The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right."

This is the phrasing as appears in the Irish Constitution and to make any changes to this wording, a referendum must take place.