Varadkar: TDs voting against abortion laws 'will be proven wrong by history'

A senior Fine Gael Minister has said TDs voting against the new abortion legislation from a pro-life perspective are making a mistake and will be proven wrong.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar was speaking ahead of the first Dáil vote on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill this evening.

Fine Gael's Terence Flanagan, Peter Matthews, Brian Walsh and Billy Timmins have already said they will not support the Bill.

It is said a further six could join their ranks, including Junior Minister Lucinda Creighton.

Minister Varadkar said the decision of the four TDs is very regrettable, but voting against the Government has consequences.

He said: "The safeguards that are in place in this legislation are so much stronger than those that exist at present.

"I really think that those who are voting against this bill from a pro-life point of view are making a very big error, they will be proven wrong by history and they are making a big mistake in that regard."