Sinn Féin TDs who vote against abortion “will be disciplined” says new leader
from SPUC:
The other parties are allowing a free vote, as is the norm in the UK.
Sinn Féin TDs will not be allowed a conscience vote on abortion and anyone who deviates from the party line will be disciplined, the party’s new leader Mary Lou McDonald has said.
“It’s a matter of private conscience but it’s also a matter of public policy,” Ms McDonald, who replaced Gerry Adams as President of Sinn Féin on Saturday, told RTÉ’s The Week in Politics on Sunday. Asked if TDs could vote in accordance with their conscience, she said: “They do have to respect and uphold and vote in accordance with Sinn Féin policy.”
Asked if failure to do this could result in disciplinary action she replied: “To be frank, yes.”
Forbidden from upholding current law
Two of the party’s TDs, Peadar Tóibín and Carol Nolan, are known to be against repealing the Eighth Amendment and legislation that would allow unrestricted abortion 12 weeks into pregnancy.
The other major political parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, are allowing free votes for their TDs. In Britain, abortion is always considered a matter of conscience, and is not subject to political whipping.
Ms McDonald did not specify what form any disciplinary action would take, but Mr Tóibín was previously suspended for six months for going against the party position in a Dáil vote relating to abortion.
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