Cabinet to reveal abortion views

CABINET Ministers are expected to air their views on abortion following a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party this afternoon.

The Taoiseach and seven of his ministers have yet to express their view on the controversial issue, with a further seven having already voiced support for a repeal of the Eighth Amendment.

A numbers of ministers who have yet to reveal their stance are expected to state their position today.

Sources close to Tánaiste Simon Coveney have said he will make his position clear after the meeting, which is expected to last four hours, and the discussion at Cabinet tomorrow.

But while it is anticipated that Leo Varadkar will decide his stance this week, he has said he will not make it public until a wording of the question to be put to the people is finalised, which is unlikely to happen until February.

Some Fine Gael backbenchers have privately criticised this position, believing Mr Varadkar has failed to show leadership. One TD said: ‘Half the Cabinet are out shouting from the rooftops, and yet Leo remains a mystery. It’s high time he grasped the nettle and set an example for the party.’

But others defended the Taoiseach, with one saying: ‘We all have one vote at the end of the day. The leadership needed is the one to put the question to the people – something which every Taoiseach for the past 30 years has failed to do – and he’s doing that.’

Yesterday a spokesman for Mr Varadkar said: ‘The Taoiseach will make his views known when he feels it is the appropriate time to do so.’