A SINN Féin TD has broken ranks and spelled out her opposition to repealing the 8th Amendment.
Offaly TD Carol Nolan joined her Westmeath counterpart Peadar Tóibín and Mid Ulster MP Francie Molloy in voicing concern about Sinn Féin's backing for lifting the constitutional ban on abortion.
With a referendum on repeal of the 8th Amendment expected to take place over the coming months, Ms Nolan told the Tullamore-based Midlands 103 radio station that changing the constitution would "open the doors to abortion on demand".
"I am very concerned about the removal from the constitution of the equal right to life for the unborn," she said last week.
At the Sinn Féin ard fheis in November party members backed a motion to liberalise abortion policy.
But at the time Mr Molloy said it was unfortunate that some people “keep pushing the boat out further”.
He warned that many of his rural, socially conservative constituents – who are also deputy leader Michelle O’Neill’s constituents – would not welcome the policy shift.
Mr Toíbín also told the ard fheis that changing the party’s policy on abortion would bring it more in line with abortion laws in Britain.
