Grassroots oppose repealing the 8th

Fianna Fáil’s grassroots members have strongly backed a motion opposing “any attempt to diminish the constitutional rights of the unborn” despite party leader Micheál Martin calling for a free vote in any referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment.

The position was announced to cheers by delegates during a vote of more than 200 Fianna Fáil members at the party’s annual ard fheis at the RDS in Dublin on Saturday — at which a separate pro-choice motion was roundly rejected.

However, while the anti-repeal motion was passed by a three to one majority, it is not binding and is instead advisory, meaning the party remains free to continue with its free-vote approach to next year’s referendum.