INFO » Before the closing meeting, Zhang

DUBLIN Joshua Dobbs Steelers Jersey , Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Ireland will hold a referendum on its abortion laws by the end of May, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar announced here Monday night.


The announcement came at a press conference after a cabinet meeting had formally approved a referendum on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland, which virtually forbids abortions in the country.


Varadkar said the referendum will ask citizens whether they want to retain the amendment or enable the Dail, the lower house of the Irish parliament, to make a new law that will allow abortion in hospitals up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.


The Eighth Amendment recognizes the equal right to the life of the mother and the fetus. It was signed into law one month after a referendum in September 1983 with nearly 67 percent voting against abortions.


If the referendum is in favor of pro-abortion laws, Varadkar said Health Minister Simon Harris has been asked to draft a bill that will be introduced in the Oireachtas Cameron Sutton Steelers Jersey , the Irish legislature.


The legislation will be drafted in line with recommendations made last month by the all-party Oireachtas committee, which proposed the repeal of the Eighth Amendment and permission for termination of pregnancy up to 12 weeks.


"We have abortion in Ireland, but it is unsafe, unregulated and unlawful, and in my opinion we cannot export our problems and import our solutions," Varadkar said.


Abortion in Ireland is illegal unless performed to save the life of the mother. Many Irish women travel to other countries for abortion or source abortion pills from abroad online.


According to Harris Mason Rudolph Steelers Jersey , at least 170,000 Irish women traveled to other countries, mostly to Britain, for abortion since 1980.


In recent times, however, an increasing number of people have been supporting a more liberalized abortion law.




The 13th National People's Congress (NPC) will hold its first annual session in Beijing on March 5 to discuss the Constitution revision James Washington Steelers Jersey , according to a decision made by the 12th NPC Standing Committee Tuesday.

　　Zhang Dejiang (C), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), speaks at the closing meeting of the 32nd session of the 12th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 30, 2018. (XinhuaYao Dawei)

The NPC deputies will also elect state leaders and confirm nomination of state leaders Joe Haden Steelers Jersey , according to the decision adopted via a vote at an NPC Standing Committee session held on Monday and Tuesday.


The agenda of the session includes reviewing the government work report, examining reports on the implementation of the annual plan on national economic and social development in 2017 and the draft plan on national economic and social development in 2018, and examining reports on the implementation of the central and local budgets in 2017 and the draft central and local budgets in 2018.


NPC deputies will deliberate a draft revision to the Constitution, a draft law on supervision, and the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate Javon Hargrave Steelers Jersey , according to the decision.


The motion to review a draft revision to the Constitution and the draft itself were passed unanimously by the NPC Standing Committee via a vote, said Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the 12th NPC Standing Committee, at the closing meeting of the NPC Standing Committee session.


"The draft revision has incorporated major theoretical achievements, principles and policies adopted at the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress, particularly Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Sean Davis Steelers Jersey ," Zhang said.


He urged the NPC Standing Committee to fulfill duties bestowed by the Constitution and law, work for a better socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics and enhance supervision on the implementation of the Constitution and law.


The priorities of the 12th NPC Standing Committee next month will be examining qualification of the 13th NPC deputies, assisting them to perform their legal duties, stepping up preparation for the annual session and preparing for a smooth transition to the 13th NPC Standing Committee, which will be elected at the annual session in March.


The NPC Standing Committee also appointed five officials and dismissed one.


Before the closing meeting, Zhang also presided over a meeting of the chairman and vice chairpersons.


The NPC is the highest institution through which the Chinese people exercise their state power. Elected for a term of five years Artie Burns Steelers Jersey , it normally meets at an annual session and is convened by its Standing Commi