FG too divided on abortion issue to risk free vote

After more than two decades of dither and delay the Cabinet that finally decided to legislate for the X case ruling was still too timid to even mention what has become the key area for contention on the issue — suicide.

Sensitivity within Fine Gael is so intense on the subject that a brief statement from the Government signalling it would go down the dual route of legislation and regulation was careful to avoid any direct reference to suicide risk in a woman seeking a termination.

The expert group that provided the Government with four options on how to proceed on the X case ruling last month was itself a Coalition creation intended to give Fine Gael political cover to move on an issue which makes the party deeply uncomfortable.