Labour TD set to table another bill on issue of fatal foetal abnormality

There seems to be more division in the Labour Party over the tabling of a bill to allow for abortion in the case of fatal foetal abnormalities.

Yesterday, Labour TD Anne Ferris was kicked out of the parliamentary party for opposing the Government and voting for a bill by Independent TD Clare Daly.

Labour backbenchers had been briefed earlier in the day on advice from the Attorney General that Deputy Daly's bill was unconstitutional.

However, after the bill was defeated causing another Labour TD, Michael McNamara, to announce that he would be tabling a bill of his own to allow for abortion in the case of fatal foetal abnormality.

Deputy McNamara has said the party did not provide backbenchers with a transcript of the Attorney Generals' advice.

“The Attorney Generals' advice was with regard to this particular bill (Clare Daly’s defeated bill) rather then the issue in general,” said McNamara.

“Now I we don’t know that for a fact because unfortunately backbenchers weren’t given the Attorney Generals' advice on the issue, but we were told that the advice specifically on this bill rather then the issue more broadly.”