Pro life members of Fianna Fáil will meet this evening to discuss how to react to Micheál Martin’s stance on abortion.
The Fianna Fáil leader told the Dáil last week he supports repealing the 8th amendment and abortion on request for up to 12 weeks.
Three Fianna Fail TD’s in the Northwest; Marc McSharry, Eamon Scanlon and Pat the Cope Gallagher are all against repealing the 8th amendment. While it is unclear what Donegal Deputy Charlie McConalogues position is.
Micheál Martin surprised everyone when he got up and supported repeal last week, including members of his own parliamentary party.
And the reaction hasn’t been all positive with one TD saying the party would lynch him for the move, with another saying they’d be inundated with calls and emails from angry party members.
Some TDs took issue with the fact they only learned about the speech and their party leaders views at the same time as the media and everyone else.
Now Carlow/Kilkenny TD Bobby Aylward has organised a meeting of those in the parliamentary party with pro-life views, to talk about how they can ensure their views get equal media coverage to Micheál Martin’s.
It’s expected at least 8 members of the parliamentary party will attend.
One TD estimated as many as 75 per cent of the party are pro-life, and are disappointed in the position Micheál Martin has taken.
But one Donegal Fianna Fail TD will not be at this evening’s meeting of those opposed to repealing the 8th Amendment.
The meeting of Fianna Fail TDs follows the announcement by leader Micheal Martin that he supports repeal and abortion on request for up to 12 weeks.
Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher, who’s leas-ceann comhairle of the Dail, told Ocean FM News this morning that he will not be attending the meeting.
His Fianna Fail party colleague in Donegal, Charlie McConalogue, declined to comment when asked if he would be attending.
One of those who will be attending is Sligo/Leitrim TD Eamon Scanlon:
