Senator quits Fianna Fail over gay parents legislation

Senator Jim Walsh has left the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party over his opposition to same-sex couples using assisted reproduction and his “deeply held and conscientious opinions”.

Party leader Micheál Martin is now left with 33 Dáil and Seanad members as he faces criticism over Fianna Fáil’s new slump in the opinion polls.

Mr Walsh met Mr Martin yesterday and explained that he would not support the Coalition’s family legislation, which will legalise same-sex adoption and regulate assisted reproduction.