FF does ‘not get’ need to repeal Eighth Amendment, claims party candidate

Fianna Fáil general election candidate Lorraine Clifford-Lee has claimed her party colleagues do "not get" the need to repeal the Eighth Amendment.

Ms Clifford-Lee, who is running in the Dublin Fingal area, said she is in favour of changing the Constitution allowing for terminations in the cases of rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormalities.

Fianna Fáil has allowed a freedom-of-conscience vote on the issue but made no reference to the issue in its general election manifesto.

“I understand my party colleagues’ position and it is something I have brought up with them individually and brought up with the party leader,” said Ms Clifford-Lee. “If I am elected it is something I will continue to pursue within the parliamentary party. It is an issue coming up on the doorsteps.

“I feel women are making it a live issue and they are discussing it with other female candidates. Perhaps my male colleagues don’t get it as much as I do, but certainly I am hearing it on doorsteps and it is something I am going to pursue if I am elected.”

Longford/Westmeath TD Robert Troy said repealing the Eighth Amendment is “not a priority” for Fianna Fáil. He said the party would not pursue it in the Programme for Government negotiations, but if it arose members could vote with their conscience.

Mr Troy said he would support changing the legislation to allow for terminations in the cases of fatal foetal abnormalities.

Fine Gael is proposing the establishment of a citizen-led body to examine the need for legislative change.

Sinn Féin and the Labour party are campaigning to repeal the Eighth Amendment.