Tóibín to vote against abortion bill

Sinn Féin’s Peadar Tóibín could be forced to quit the party, after he confirmed that he will vote against the abortion legislation.

The Meath West TD, who had indicated he would defy the party whip, made the announcement on RTÉ last night.

Last November, he abstained from the Dáil vote on Clare Daly’s abortion bill. He was deemed to have broken the party whip and was stripped of his €9,500 position as chairman of the Oireachtas committee on public service oversight and petitions — but he remained in the party fold.