Ireland to hold referendum over abortion rights on May 25: minister

DUBLIN, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Irish government announced on Wednesday that a referendum on whether the eighth amendment of the country's constitution -- related to abortion rights -- should be repealed or retained will be held on May 25.

The date was announced by the Irish Minister for Housing and Local Government Eoghan Murphy shortly after the country's Senate gave a go-ahead with the referendum by 40 votes to ten on Wednesday, completing all the legal procedures required for the government to hold such a referendum in the country.

Murphy said registration for postal voters will close on April 28 and the registration for regular voting will close on May 8.

The Eighth Amendment refers to an article added into the constitution of Ireland following a 1983 referendum in the country, which virtually bans abortion as it stresses equal right to the life of the mother and the unborn.

Earlier in January, the Irish government formally decided to table a bill to the country's parliament for holding a referendum to repeal the eighth amendment. The bill also suggests that termination of pregnancy up to 12 weeks shall be allowed.

The government-tabled referendum bill was passed by the country's lower house of the parliament with 97 votes to 25 on last Wednesday. Enditem