Sinn Féin to decide on holding Ard Fheis on abortion

Sinn Féin will decide next Monday whether to hold a special national conference to decide if the party will back the Government proposal to allow unrestricted access to abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Party sources say there are differing opinions internally on whether Sinn Féin should take a position, including how any divisive debate could impact on leader Mary Lou McDonald.

The Government will put the 12-week proposal to the Dáil for a vote if the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, which gives equal protection to the right to life of the unborn and the right to life of the mother, is repealed in the proposed May referendum.