Alliance TDs insist on free vote on bill to repeal the Eighth Amendment

Fine Gael are “in denial” if they think they can force their Coalition partners the Independent Alliance to oppose a new bill to liberalise abortion, Alliance members have said.

They say a free vote is not in the gift to Enda Kenny to grant and they are insisting that such a situation occurs when the bill is debated next week.

“We are not in the business of asking for a free vote. It is not their decision to make,” one Alliance member said yesterday.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner yesterday, several Alliance members said they will be demanding a free vote on an upcoming bill in the Dáil to repeal the Eighth Amendment on abortion.

Following a major row in the summer over a similar bill, brought forward by Independent TD Mick Wallace, the Coalition almost fell over a refusal by Taoiseach Enda Kenny to agree to a free vote.

While there have been some meetings to try and resolve the matter, the alliance has stated clearly it “will not be pushed around by Fine Gael”.

Minister and Waterford TD John Halligan said he was adamant that a free vote must happen, but added he did not want to see the stability of the Government placed in jeopardy again.

He said: “I know there are some in Fine Gael who want to roll us over because they feel we did it to them last time. I will not be pushed around on this issue by them. They should just agree to a free vote and kill the controversy.”

Another Alliance member, who asked not to be named, said Fine Gael are in denial thinking they can force them to oppose the new bill, which is being brought by Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Ruth Coppinger.

“It is a bit late now to only getting around to this now, but the budget took up a lot of time and energy. Fine Gael are in denial on this, we are requiring a free vote,” said the alliance member.

“We are not in a mood to oppose the bill. We have different opinions on it. Boxer Moran and Sean Canney will want to vote with the Government and we have no problem with that. We can’t understand why this is now an issue and they are not simply agreeing the free vote,” the source said.

The alliance’s programme manager, Tony Williams, has been given the responsibility to try and defuse the row with Fine Gael before the Dáil debates.

A non-aligned minister, Katherine Zappone, has indicated she will oppose the Coppinger bill, despite progress on abortion being a major policy priority for her.