Parties diverge over repeal support

All eyes will be on Fine Gael’s special parliamentary party meeting this afternoon where TDs and senators will discuss their views on plans to repeal the Eighth Amendment and allow unrestricted access to abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

However, within the meeting, more than a few concerned glances will be shot towards Fianna Fáil’s offices as it becomes clear that both parties — and therefore individual constituency rivals — are leaning opposite ways on an issue that could prove crucially to securing local support for swing seats at the next general election.

An Irish Examiner poll of all Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members over the weekend has found that while there is a slow but growing support for a repeal vote among Fine Gael representatives, the view among Fianna Fáil could not be more different.