Cabinet adjourns after ‘hot and heavy’ abortion bill row

The cabinet meeting was forced to adjourn yesterday after it descended into a “hot and heavy” row between Fine Gael and Independent Alliance ministers over proposals to liberalise the country’s abortion laws.

There is expected to be a second cabinet meeting this week, after the Government failed to agree a common position on Independent TD Mick Wallace’s bill seeking to allow abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, rape, and incest.

All five Independent Alliance members in the Government have decided to back two of their senior ministers — Shane Ross and Finian McGrath — who want a free vote on the bill, even if it is deemed unconstitutional by the attorney general.