By Fionnán Sheahan, Political Reporter
THE Taoiseach was accused yesterday of attempting to mislead the public on aspects of the abortion referendum. The Labour Party said Bertie Ahern knew that public opinion was turning against the amendment and he was becoming increasingly isolated on the issue. Labour insisted the referendum was unnecessary, irrelevant and dangerous to the right to life of Irish women.

Launching her party's campaign for a No vote, Labour health spokesperson Liz McManus said it was not accurate to say the referendum protects the use of the morning after pill, yet the Taoiseach had insisted this is the case. Nor was it accurate to say the referendum protects current medical practice, yet the Taoiseach had repeated this time and again, Deputy McManus said: "It is patently inaccurate to say that the X-case decision would 'open the floodgates', yet the Taoiseach has consistently peddled this lie."

Effectively, the people were asked to write proposals into the constitution, Deputy McManus said, posing a serious risk to the lives of women:

* the removal of protection afforded to Irish women who are pregnant and suicidal.

* the restriction and limitation of medical practice designed to save the life of a woman.

According to Deputy McManus, if the referendum was defeated, Labour would support initiatives that help and assist Irish women with crisis pregnancies and take real action to reduce the number of abortions: "We will also seek, as recommended by the Expert Group on the Constitution, that legislation in line with the X-case is introduced."

The Catholic Bishops yesterday backed the Taoiseach's stance and welcomed the announcement of the date for the abortion referendum.