IDUBLIN (CNS) – Ireland’s parliament rejected legislation that would have allowed a controversial 1992 Supreme Court ruling permitting abortion in limited circumstances to take effect.

The Socialist Party motion was defeated 111-20, April 19.

Following the 1992 court ruling – known as the X-case – abortion has been legal in circumstances where there is a substantial risk to the life of the mother.  However, successive governments have not enacted legislation to give effect to the ruling, and voters have rejected abortion legislation in a national referendum.