The Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has reiterated her opposition to another referendum on abortion and has said the most effective way to deal with the matter is through all-party agreement.
Speaking in Galway yesterday, Ms Harney said she did not feel the need for another referendum.
A referendum, which is the Taoiseach's preferred option, is favoured by 50 per cent of the electorate in the latest Irish Times/MRBI poll.
Asked about threats from at least one Independent deputy, Ms Mildred Fox, to withdraw her support for the Government if the matter was not put to a referendum, the Tanaiste said the Government should await the views of the Oireachtas All-Party Committee on the Constitution which was now considering the Green Paper on abortion. The committee has sought submissions on the options outlined in the paper by November 30th.
"This whole issue is very sensitive, very delicate, and should be ideally dealt with on an all-party, cross-party basis," said Ms Harney.
"That is the most effective way to deal with complex and sensitive issues of this kind.
"We do not want to see the country plunged into another divisive referendum, such as the ones we've had in the past. That would not be very helpful, wouldn't be very positive and wouldn't achieve anything.
"I know that people with a different perspective always feel that the public should be consulted, but the public has been consulted on this matter on three occasions.
"Indeed, it was the initial referendum that caused many of the problems that have subsequently arisen," she said, referring in particular to the X case.
Pressed for her views on the position of Mr John Ellis TD as chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and the Marine, Ms Harney said that was a matter for the committee and for Fianna Fail. It was not a matter for Government.
She said the Minister for Tourism and Sport, Dr McDaid, who called for Mr Ellis's resignation yesterday, was entitled to express his view.
"John Ellis obviously will, I'm sure, be considering the views of that committee, and the views expressed by the chairman of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party and the Government chief whip, Seamus Brennan," she said.
"But I don't want to intervene, I don't think it would be right for me to do so, nor would it be helpful."
