The figures come as three days of hearings on abortion get underway at the Oireachtas Health Committee this morning.
The coalition’s already decided to legislate for abortion where there’s a threat to the life of a woman – including the risk of suicide and it will be backed up with regulations for medical professionals.
But before the legislation is drafted the coalition has committed to hearing from various interested parties with medical professionals, legal experts and church and advocacy groups having their say over the coming days
The issue still threatens to split the coalition – especially between ultra conservative Fine Gael backbenchers and their more liberal counterparts in Labour.
But Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore says the government’s united:
