Abortion debate: Taoiseach accused of 'cowardice'

Fine Gael has accused the Taoiseach of "political cowardice" for refusing to participate in a TV debate with Michael Noonan on the forthcoming abortion referendum.

Mr Ahern rejected the idea by saying he didn’t want to politicise the issue, but Fine Gael’s Alan Dukes retorted by saying the Taoiseach had already tried to politicise the debate by "dividing it along party lines".

Meanwhile, it emerged today that Mr Ahern also refused a second invitation to engage in a TV debate on abortion with Mr Noonan, this time from Conradh na Gaeilge in Limerick.

The group wrote to both men last month to guage their interest in a Irish-language debate. The Fine Gael leader accepted the invitation, but the Taoiseach declined.

Conradh na Gaeilge said Mr Ahern’s response was that "a vigorous debate continues in the Dail on a daily basis" on the issue.