TAOISEACH Enda Kenny faces the embarrassing prospect of seeing some of his own Fine Gael TDs and senators attend a protest against abortion legislation.
Organisers of the 'Unite for Life' vigil have told supporters they hope to defeat attempts to legislate for abortion – and some Fine Gael TDs said they might attend the event this Saturday.
"We
hope that with your help, this year will be a year during which our
Government will decide against abortion legislation, and instead opt to
protect mothers and babies," the group's website for the event says.
And now pro-life Fine Gael Dublin North-East TD Terence Flanagan says he is seriously considering attending the vigil.
It takes place beside Leinster House and has also been backed by the Catholic Church, with Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin throwing his weight behind it.
The
Government has committed itself to introducing legislation and
regulations to deal with abortion, and Mr Kenny has said the threat of
suicide would be included as grounds for abortion.
But Mr Flanagan
said: "I am pro-life. Fine Gael made promises about this at the last
election, as did I when people contacted me about it. It will just
become another broken promise."
But he says he has to wait and see
what exact legislation is brought forward before deciding how he will
vote on the issue. Mr Flanagan added he has to be convinced the
legislation would not lead to a liberal abortion regime.
Senator Paul Bradford said he was also considering whether to attend the rally.
"If I happen to be in Dublin on Saturday I might go along," he said.
It
has also emerged that the Oireachtas Health Committee will not be
making any recommendations to Government on how to proceed with
legislation and regulations.
Committee chairman Jerry Buttimer said: "We weren't asked for any recommendations and nor will we be giving any."