The Public Expenditure Minister says it would be "cruel" for Labour TDs to vote for a fatal foetal abnormalities bill which "would have no effect".
Brendan Howlin was speaking ahead of a meeting of the Labour parliamentary party today which will discuss the vote called by Socialist TD Clare Daly.
Labour TD Anne Ferris says she will support the bill while as many as four other of her party colleagues could also vote against the Government.
Brendan Howlin says Labour has been at the forefront of advancing issues around abortion law but says the bill won't have any effect for people in "painful" situations:
Clare Daly says the government's position that her abortion bill is unconstitutional is a 'cop out'.
It's based on the advice of the Attorney General, which Labour TDs and Senators will be briefed about at a meeting today.
Deputy Daly's bill proposes that abortion be allowed in cases where a fatal foetal abnormality has been diagnosed.
Clare Daly believes that her proposals would be passed if a free vote was held, and she thinks the government's wrong in its position:
