Abortion reply may spark Coalition rift

A COALITION rift over abortion was looming last night as the Government finalised its response to a landmark European Court of Human Rights ruling.

Ireland was given until June 16 to come up with an action plan for legal changes that would make it clear when abortion was allowed in the country, but some Labour TDs have expressed “concern” at the way the matter is being handled.

While Labour fought the general election on the platform of bringing in legislation to deal with the aftermath of the X Case, during the Programme for Government talks the party and Fine Gael agreed to see the issue of abortion dealt with by a cross-party Oireachtas committee.