Following last week’s big strides forward, the House of Keys will once more look at the Abortion Reform Bill today (Tuesday).

It is due a third and final reading. After that, it will move on to the Legislative Council for consideration.

The main battles may now have been settled but given that last week the House of Keys saw an 11th-hour attempt to delay the bill’s scrutiny, it might be brave to assume that the third reading is a formality.

Dr Alex Allinson, who has been guiding the bill through the Keys, was planning to speak to the attorney general ahead of today’s sitting. It may go some way to calming fears raised by Alfred Cannan (Ayre and Michael) last week.

Mr Cannan tried to force a seven-day delay on consideration of the remaining clauses after expressing alarm that Attorney General John Quinn had not had the bill referred to him.

That was voted down by others, who pointed out the AG would not necessarily expect it to be referred to him at this stage.

On top of that, they argued, legislative drafter Howard Connell had already expressed confidence that the bill - included the proposed addition of access zones - was human rights compliant and, apart from anything else, given that Mr Quinn sits on the Legislative Council, that was the normal process,

But there were still some concerns about the new addition of provision for ’access zones’ - which will prohibit protestors from approaching or harassing patients or medics near Noble’s hospital or clinics - with questions over freedom of speech. Dr Allinson may be in a position to put those concerns to bed today.

Last week saw other crucial moments in the bill’s progress. An attempt to remove ’social well-being’ from the definition health as set out in the bill was unsuccessful.

Other definitions were added, including ’serious social grounds’ and ’serious impairment’.

These latter definitions come into play with the previously approved provision for when abortions can take place in the 15-24-week period and for emergency late terminations.

Abortion upon request, up to 14 weeks, was approved at a much earlier stage of scrutiny.

Dr Allinson said he hoped the close scrutiny of every aspect of the bill and the care taken with all of its wording would go some way to providing reassurance to those who have reservations.

There has even been co-operation with those who have fought had against certain aspects, to bring in amendments that have tightened up the bill.

While it is unlikely that the anti-abortion campaigners will take home their placards, those who have campaigned for pro-choice, such as the Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation, have welcomed the progress so far.

One of CALM’s supporters is rape survivor Deborah McCann, who first spoke out as MHKs began their deliberations of the bill in January.

Following last week’s events, she told the Isle of Man Examiner: ’I am delighted that, despite some predictable delaying tactics, the House of Keys has passed the necessary new clauses and the Abortion Reform Bill will now move to its third reading.

’I’m particularly pleased that Ralph Peake’s access zone new clauses were debated and are now part of the bill.

’This is vital as it will ensure that women, seeking abortion advice or treatment, cannot be harassed or bullied.’

Deborah, who is hoping to be in the public gallery at the House of Keys for today’s third reading, added: ’I am sure I am not alone in being appalled by the tactics of such groups as Abort67.

’Abortion is a women’s healthcare issue, plain and simple.’

The law in the Isle of Man, at the moment, allows termination in the island up to 24 weeks, but only where medical practitioners consider there is substantial risk the child will not survive birth, will die shortly afterwards or will be seriously handicapped.

Pregnancies resulting from rape, incest or sexual assault may be terminated up to 12 weeks, but women must provide an affidavit attesting to the cause of the pregnancy.

Terminations on social grounds are not permitted under the current law.