Kenny hits back at Church threat on abortion

The Taoiseach has decisively rejected an intervention by the Catholic Church on planned abortion laws, saying this is a republic and he has a duty to uphold its laws.

“My book is the Constitution,” Enda Kenny said in a clear reference that he would not be dictated to by an interpretation of the Bible. “The Constitution is determined by the people, it’s the people’s book.”

He was responding to comments by the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady, who said that while the job of TDs and senators was to legislate, they don’t have the “power over life”.