Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has dismissed suggestions that his leadership of the party may be under threat because of his decision to come out in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment. Several commentators have suggested that Mr Martin may be under pressure for his forthright views on the need for repeal given that he is in a clear minority within the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party where over 30 members of the parliamentary party have urged a No vote. And rumblings of a possible heave against Mr Martin were given some impetus when some 31 members of the parliamentary party including possible leadership contenders, Dara Calleary and Michael McGrath posed for a photo outside Leinster House to call for a No vote. But Mr Martin this week played down any suggestion that his decision to come out in favour for a Yes vote and to subsequently campaign in Dublin, Cork and Louth to have the Eighth Amendment repealed would lead to any move against him. Mr Martin also revealed that he had received hate mail for his change of position on the issue but he didn’t believe such correspondence was typical of the overwhelming majority of those campaigning for a No vote.

Source: The Irish Times May 22, 2018 12:28 UTC