GALWAY SENATOR COULD FACE DISMISSAL FROM FINE GAEL

Date Published: 03-Feb-2013

GALWAY Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames could face dismissal from the parliamentary party if she votes against it on the abortion legislation.

She is reported in weekend national newspapers as having written to all Fine Gael TDs and Senators warning that a "free vote is critical on matters of conscience".

According to the "Sunday Independent" she has told colleagues that this is "one of the safest countries in which to have a baby, and no doctor at the hearings ever witheld, or knew of a doctor, to ever withold, or refuse medical treatment to a woman in difficulty in pregnancy in Ireland"

Meanwhile in "The Mail" she is quoted as saying that "to legislate for X, which specifies no time limits for a woman who claims she is suicidal, is neither the solution for the unborn baby or for the pregnant woman".

But a failure to vote in accordance with the Fine Gael party whip will guarantee dismissal from the parliamentary party as Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled out a free vote on the matter.