Divisions and tensions within Government over the abortion legislation have escalated after the intervention of the Catholic bishops, with both sides now targeting the upcoming committee hearings to make amendments to the controversial bill agreed last week, the Sunday Independent can reveal.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been warned by rebels on the Fine Gael pro-life wing of the party that "the war is not yet over" when it comes to the Government's proposal to legislate for the X Case. And Labour TDs and senators are adamant this weekend that no further restrictions would be tolerated saying that the expert group recommendations represent for them a "bottom line". Independent reported
Senator Ivana Bacik said this weekend that the recommendations of the expert group, contained in the new bill, represent a "bottom line" for the Labour party and members are adamant that no undoing of that will be allowed to happen.
"Yes, that is our bottom line. It would be really very hard to accept any further restrictions that might be put into the final draft that would be very hard to accept."
She added: "The health committee hearings will be very useful in teasing out some of the practical details, but it wouldn't be acceptable to see extra restrictions put in. I think the heads provide us with the evidence-based procedures set out in the expert group, but putting in any extra restrictions wouldn't work."
In the wake of the parliamentary party meeting, Fine Gael ministers and the Taoiseach believed the revolt had been quelled, with the exception of two or three TDs.
However, rebel TDs believed that between 10 to 15 TDs are still prepared to lose the party whip unless their concerns are met on a variety of issues.
"While they may not be willing to vote in the Dail against the Government, they certainly are prepared to vote for a motion at the parliamentary party meeting. This is not over," said one TD.
A number of FG TDs remain anxious to ''issue a sunset clause or a variation of that''.
Outside of Peter Mathews, Terence Flanagan, John O'Mahony and James Bannon, it is believed that Galway West TD Brian Walsh still has significant difficulties. Others who are still not convinced include John Paul Phelan, Damien English, the two Wicklow TDs Billy Timmins and Andrew Doyle, and European Affairs Minister Lucinda Creighton.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been warned by rebels on the Fine Gael pro-life wing of the party that "the war is not yet over" when it comes to the Government's proposal to legislate for the X Case. And Labour TDs and senators are adamant this weekend that no further restrictions would be tolerated saying that the expert group recommendations represent for them a "bottom line". Independent reported
Senator Ivana Bacik said this weekend that the recommendations of the expert group, contained in the new bill, represent a "bottom line" for the Labour party and members are adamant that no undoing of that will be allowed to happen.
"Yes, that is our bottom line. It would be really very hard to accept any further restrictions that might be put into the final draft that would be very hard to accept."
She added: "The health committee hearings will be very useful in teasing out some of the practical details, but it wouldn't be acceptable to see extra restrictions put in. I think the heads provide us with the evidence-based procedures set out in the expert group, but putting in any extra restrictions wouldn't work."
In the wake of the parliamentary party meeting, Fine Gael ministers and the Taoiseach believed the revolt had been quelled, with the exception of two or three TDs.
However, rebel TDs believed that between 10 to 15 TDs are still prepared to lose the party whip unless their concerns are met on a variety of issues.
"While they may not be willing to vote in the Dail against the Government, they certainly are prepared to vote for a motion at the parliamentary party meeting. This is not over," said one TD.
A number of FG TDs remain anxious to ''issue a sunset clause or a variation of that''.
Outside of Peter Mathews, Terence Flanagan, John O'Mahony and James Bannon, it is believed that Galway West TD Brian Walsh still has significant difficulties. Others who are still not convinced include John Paul Phelan, Damien English, the two Wicklow TDs Billy Timmins and Andrew Doyle, and European Affairs Minister Lucinda Creighton.