Frances Fitzgerald denies Fine Gael split over abortion

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, has said she certainly wouldn't describe the range of views within Fine Gael on abortion as a split within the party.

Asked if she agreed with the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, who said on Sunday that he believed an amended provision on abortion should remain in the Constitution, Ms Fitzgerald said she agreed with the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, who has said a process needs to be gone through before deciding on any move.

Ms Fitzgerald said a process was needed to allow for a detailed discussion on the future of the eight amendment to the Constitution and that clearly there were very complex issues in terms of what could be in the Constitution and what can be in legislation. That was what needed to be teased out during the process, she said.

Asked by reporters if there was a split in her party on the issue, said she it was a very difficult issue for everyone in the country and that she certainly wouldn’t describe the range of views in Fine Gael as a split.

She said people supported the Taoiseach’s idea that there needed to be a process to discuss the issue.

The State had seen a very successful constitutional convention and a very respectful and dignified debate on marriage equality and she believed the very same could be had on the abortion issue.