Tóibín expects to be suspended from SF

Meath West Sinn Fein TD, Peadar Toibin says it is inevitable he will be suspended from the party, as he plans to vote against abortion legislation currently before the Dail.

The Navan based Deputy, who campaigned for a no vote in the referendum on the 8th Amendment, said when the abortion legislation is put to a vote, he will be voting against it.

If a general election is called during Deputy Toibin's suspension, he will be unable to run as a Sinn Fein candidate in the next election.
"I don't know the date of the next election, so it is impossible to say anything else about it, except that I dearly hope that I can fight the election for Sinn Fein with my comrades," he said.

Deputy Toibin was suspended from the party for six months in 2013 when he voted against legislation introducing limited abortion based on the X-case.

He has always been unapologetically pro-life and says he couldn't vote in favour of the legislation.

"I will be voting against the legislation, and I imagine that after that, I will be give my marching orders."

"I don't know how long I will be suspended for an it could be anything up to expulsion," he said.

He said today that he had been a member of Sinn Fein for 20 years and always wanted a United Ireland, economic justice and had worked hard for his constituents and his party.

"I hope in the future, I will be able to remain in Sinn Fein to pursue these objectives.

"This is a challenging issue, I have many good friends in the party and hope to be able to continue to work with them.

"It would be a desperate pity if it was this issue only that separated us."