They said that suggestions that TDs who oppose abortion are guilty of cowardice, are, "baseless," and do nothing, "to help a calm and rational debate.”
They were responding to an article in Friday's Irish Times in which two Labour Dublin City Councillors, Rebecca Moynihan and Jane Horgan Jones, suggested that, "political cowardice," is behind Fine Gael opposition to abortion.
In a statement, spokesperson Dr Ruth Cullen said that the strong opposition expressed at the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meeting, “showed that there were still politicians for whom election promises meant something.”
During the 2011 General Election campaign, Fine Gael promised that it would, "bring to the proposed all-party committee a clear commitment that women in pregnancy will receive whatever treatments are necessary to safeguard their lives and that the duty of care to preserve the life of the baby will also be upheld.”
Responding to suggestions from members of the Labour Party that Fine Gael TDs opposed to abortion legislation are guilty of, “cowardice,” Dr Cullen said, “It is sad that those on the so-called pro-choice side of the abortion debate are unwilling to allow politicians the choice of opposing abortion on principle."
"This attitude does nothing to help a calm and rational debate. The fact that many politicians remain opposed to abortion shows their commitment to retaining Ireland's pro-life culture and its pro-woman medical practices. It also shows that they are paying attention to the growing body of evidence highlighting the negative effects of abortion on women."
Dr Cullen said, "there was every justification" for the criticism by Fine Gael TDs of the handling of the abortion issue by Minister for Health James Reilly.
She accused the Minister of repeatedly misrepresenting the European Court of Human Rights judgement in A, B and C v. Ireland, by stating that Ireland is obliged to legislate for abortion on foot of this ruling.
Dr Cullen said, "He has also given the impression that he expects a very narrow list of options from the Expert Group, all leading to abortion. This is totally unacceptable, not least because the X case decision on which any legislation would be based heard no medical evidence and set no time limits for when an abortion could take place. This would de facto amount to abortion on demand. It is remarkable that the legalisation of abortion continues to be portrayed by some as the only progressive and courageous option, when that option entails the killing of an utterly innocent human life.”