Health Minister Simon Harris Wants Eighth Amendment Referendum By Summer 2018

Health Minister Simon Harris has announced that he wants to see a referendum on the Eighth Amendment by summer 2018.

Harris made the announcement earlier today, saying that it was vital that preparatory work for such a referendum begins sooner rather than later

Speaking to RTÉ News, the Minister said that personally, he felt the amendment was outdated and should be repealed:

"My own personal view is that I would like to see a referendum take place in 2018 and I'd like to see it take place around the summer of 2018. But in relation to when that will actually happen and the practicalities of that, it is a matter for the special Oireachtas committee's work."

He also mentioned that the Oireachtas had not yet decided to hold such a referendum, but will begin to discuss such matters in the early autumn.