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.