The Dáil was adjourned for a time this morning as a heated row broke out over remarks allegedly made by a Fianna Fáil backbencher on abortion. The Opposition had earlier criticised a statement made on the issue by the Minister for the Marine.
Michael Noonan raised comments made by Frank Fahey on local radio this morning. The Minister for the Marine had said that one of the reasons for the referendum was that over the last year there had been several attempts by women to have abortions on the grounds that they were suicidal.
The Minister for Health, Micheál Martin, told RTÉ News that Mr Fahey had been told of one such case by a medical practitioner but that the Government was not aware of other such cases.
Amid shouts of "disgraceful", the Taoiseach told the Dáil this morning he was not aware of any such cases. Bertie Ahern added that he would not know because of medical confidentiality.
As the Dáil exchanges became more heated, the Labour Party erupted in fury over an alleged taunt from Fianna Fáil backbencher Dick Roche.
His Wicklow constituency colleague, Liz McManus, claimed that he had called her "pro-abortionist".
In the ensuing disorder, Fine Gael's Nora Owen was suspended as she defended Deputy McManus, who is Labour’s spokesperson on health. This led to uproar and the adjournment of the Dáil.
When the Ceann Comhairle returned, he said that the Dáil tape showed no trace of any offending remark. Deputy Roche told the house that he had merely been referring to the policy of the Labour Party.
With Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael launching their referendum campaigns today, it seems that entreaties from the Taoiseach for a calm debate appear to have gone unheeded.
