Cabinet showdown over free vote on abortion bill

Ministers are in for a Cabinet showdown as members of the Independent Alliance remain at odds with Fine Gael on having a free vote on an upcoming abortion bill.

The decision on whether to allow a free vote will go down to the wire as Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it would be discussed at Cabinet tomorrow morning, just hours before the issue is debated in the Dáil.

AAA-PBP TDs Ruth Coppinger and Bríd Smith are to bring forward the private member’s bill, which calls for a referendum to be held to repeal the Eighth Amendment.