SOURCES close to Mr Albert Reynolds have said he has "no problem" with another abortion referendum but they deny claims by an anti-abortion group that he said one should be held.
The Christian Solidarity Party yesterday said it welcomed "the statement" by the former Taoiseach that a referendum should be held "as the vast majority of the people are opposed to abortion". The party also said the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, was refusing to budge from his "sitting-on-the-fence stance" despite the growing revolt in his party.
However, sources in Longford-Roscommon, where Mr Reynolds was canvassing yesterday, said abortion had been raised at a debate organised by a local newspaper last week, which was attended by the former Taoiseach.
When it was raised, the sources said, Mr Reynolds indicated he had "no problem with a new referendum on abortion". "He did not say there should be a referendum, he said he had no problem with it. Thai is very different to calling for one," one source said.
This is the second time in 48 hours that the abortion issue has confronted Mr Ahern from within his party. On Wednesday, Fianna Fail's outgoing Cork North Central TD, Mr Dan Wallace, called for "legislative action" to outlaw abortion. He sought a firm deadline to debate the issue and to introduce legislation to confirm the State's unambiguous commitment to the total protection of the unborn.
A Fianna Fail spokesman last night declined to comment on Mr Reynolds's remarks.
It is understood that all candidates have been briefed on the party's position on abortion and Mr Ahern's assertion that "in government he will address the constitutional issues arising from the X case by way of legislation and/or referendum".