Independents slam Varadkar's comments as cabinet row over abortion bill widens

The rift between Fine Gael and the Independent Alliance widened last night after Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar accused his Government partners of risking the coalition’s stability over the recent abortion bill controversy.

In a strongly worded statement, Independent Alliance ministers Finian McGrath and John Halligan described the comments as “quite outrageous” and told Mr Varadkar and Fine Gael backbenchers to “look internally” if they want to find out who is “destabilising” the Government’s future.

The latest row comes as pressure continues to mount on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to set out the timetable of his departure from office.