A PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BILL that would provide limited access to abortion is to be debated in the Dáil next week.

The Bill, which is being introduced by Socialist Party TD Clare Daly, would make it legal for a woman to access an abortion when her life is in “real and substantial” danger, the Irish Times reports.

The Irish Independent reports that a vote on the Bill will take place in the Dáil on 19 April.

Earlier this week, over 50 groups, TDs, academics, and NGOs once again called on the government to legislate for the X case - 20 years to the day after the original High Court injunction which triggered a massive debate across Irish society.

The case involved a High Court injunction that barred a 14-year-old victim of rape to travel to Britain to access an abortion. Following a public outcry over the case, a few days later the Supreme Court ruled that abortion legal where there was a real and substantial threat to the life of woman or girl.

TDs Patrick Nulty, Clare Daly, Ciara Conway, and Mick Wallace,  as well as groups including the National Women’s Council of Ireland and the Irish Family Planning Association all urged the government to legislate on abortion following the 1992 ruling – which successive governments have failed to do.

Government urged to legislate for X case, 20 years after court decision>

In pictures: The 20th anniversary of X case protests >

Twenty years on: a timeline of the X case >