Former Taoiseach John Bruton has intervened in the row over abortion legislation, arguing that suicide should not be a ground for abortion.
In an article in today’s Irish Independent he says he knows of no other area of law where a threat of suicide is grounds to make legal something that would otherwise be illegal.
And he proposes an alternative to handling the legislation which does not involve catering for the grounds of suicide.
Last night the Taoiseach appealed for calm and asked people to wait until the legislation is published before making judgement.
But there is growing unease within the party – Galway TD Brian Walsh has already confirmed he will not vote for the Bill.
Jerry Buttimer, Chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee says John Bruton’s opinion on the issue is not surprising:
