Coveney’s very public agonising on abortion issue helps both sides
Tánaiste’s vacillations reflect much middle-ground opinion on referendum
Wed, Mar 28, 2018
Pat Leahy
Many politicians are struggling with their consciences to come to a settled position on abortion. None is doing it quite so publicly as the second most senior member of the Government.
Simon Coveney’s U-turn earlier this week on the Government’s proposal to legislate for abortion on request up to 12 weeks if the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment is passed caught his colleagues by surprise. But most of them – the majority back repeal, anyway – were not displeased. At least the Tánaiste was now on board.