The Government is coming under renewed pressure over abortion from the four Independent TDs it depends on for support.
Following a request from the deputies - Ms Mildred Fox, Mr Harry Blaney, Mr Jackie Healy-Rae and Mr Thomas Gildea - the new Minister for Health, Mr Martin, has agreed to meet them next week to discuss the matter.
One of the four deputies, Wicklow TD Ms Mildred Fox, last night called on the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to clarify his position on abortion. Ms Fox said that the Taoiseach had been "ambiguous" on the matter recently, telling a newspaper that he was in favour of a referendum and then telling the Dail that he was waiting for the outcome of the report on abortion from the All-Party Committee on the Constitution.
Ms Fox and Mr Blaney told The Irish Times last night that they would not accept anything from the Government short of a clearly worded referendum on abortion. It is understood that Mr Gildea is also seeking a referendum.
The fourth Independent, Mr Healy-Rae, is believed to be waiting to see the committee's report before making a decision.
Ms Fox said that she would be withdrawing her support from the Coalition immediately if the Government did not agree to hold a referendum. Last September she gave the Government until March to outline the option it was going to pursue. She said last night that she would not be holding the Government to the March deadline, as the All-Party Committee on the Constitution was still processing its submissions on the Green Paper on abortion and was due to hold public hearings before the summer. "But my position on abortion will not change. I want a clearly worded referendum. If the Government decides to legislate, or if it acts on a recommendation from the committee to legislate, it will no longer have my support."
Mr Blaney told The Irish Times that he wanted a referendum on abortion by the end of the year. Asked if he would withdraw his support if this did not occur, Mr Blaney said: "That's jumping the gun a bit. Let's see what happens first."
The Green Paper on abortion was introduced by the former minister for health, Mr Cowen, last October, and sets out seven options on abortion.
The All-Party Committee on the Constitution invited submissions on the Green Paper and will hold public hearings when it has finished processing the hundreds of submissions it has received.
The committee is expected to assess each of the seven options in the Green Paper, which include an outright ban on abortion in all circumstances, the introduction of a liberal regime in the Republic and the continuation of the status quo.
The current situation - given the 1992 Supreme Court ruling in the X case - permits abortions to be carried out in the State where there is a threat to the life of the mother, including the threat of suicide.