An Irish parliamentary committee has recommended making abortions available up to 12 weeks in a clear sign of support for reform in the largely Catholic country ahead of a referendum next year. 

Fourteen of the Oireachtas committee’s 21 TDs [MPs] voted in favour of repealing the Irish constitution’s controversial amendment, which only allows abortion if there is a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother.

The recommendation will be taken into account by health minister Simon Harris as he prepares the wording of the referendum, which pro-choice activists hope will spell the end of the de-facto ban on terminations.

Irish TDs also recommended that the government legalises abortions in…

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