Kenny plea over abortion law vote

The Taoiseach has made a last-ditch appeal to politicians to support divisive laws to legislate for the first time for abortion in limited circumstances.

With just hours to go until a crunch vote after midnight, several members of the coalition Government are believed to be prepared to rebel over the reforms which enshrine a woman’s right to a termination if her life is at risk.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said all members of his party Fine Gael had been briefed on the ins and outs of the contentious bill.

“I would hope that everybody will be able to support the bill,” Mr Kenny said.

“This is not about any individual deputy at all. Obviously we have explained to everybody what the bill is about, what it does, and more importantly, what it doesn’t do.”

The most contentious part of the new laws allows an expectant mother to seek an abortion on the grounds that she is suicidal.

It had been expected up to ten government members would rebel but the passing of the laws is not in doubt.

Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton is the most senior figure expected to vote against the legislation as she opposes the suicide clause and wants alternative therapies offered instead of termination.

If she votes against the bill she will lose the Fine Gael party whip and her junior ministerial position.

Ms Creighton has pushed for the legislation to be amended including adding a rule to allow the unborn to have legal representation and to allow for speedy and intense assessment and evaluation of women who state they are suicidal.

Four of her colleagues have already lost the whip and face the threat of being barred from running for the party at the next election as Mr Kenny sticks to his hard line demanding all Government members vote in favour or walk.

The Taoiseach said he understands abortion is “a sensitive issue and difficult for people”.

“But what is involved here is not any change in the law or change in rights,” he said.

“It’s a case of delivering clarity and certainty for what are constitutional rights conferred by the people on the women of Ireland, and that is the right to a termination of pregnancy in very specific circumstances where there is a real and substantial threat to a woman’s life.

“Where there is a duty and a constitutional responsibility on medical personnel, clarify beyond yay or nay the obligations of medical personnel to do everything possible or practicable to save the lives of the unborn. That’s what the bill is about and we’ll see at the vote at 12 what the result will be.”