At least 59 members of the new Dáil are in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment banning abortion except in cases where a threat to the mother’s life exists.

According to figures from a campaign group, 49 elected candidates signed at least one of two pledges expressing support for a repeal of the constitutional amendment while the remaining 10 candidates belong to a party that backs repeal.

About 180 candidates, 38 of whom were returned to the Dáil, signed a pledge from the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment before the election while 36 successful candidates signed a pledge from the National Women’s Council of Ireland (some candidates signed both pledges).

Among the signatories of the coalition’s pledge were three Fine Gael TDs: Maria Bailey, Helen McEntee and Regina Doherty as well as Fianna Fáil’s Fiona O’Loughlin.

The coalition said “the vast majority of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael candidates did not respond to our request to sign the pledge. Of those who did respond, several stated that they were “not permitted to sign up to the policy platforms of other organisations”.

“This made it difficult to quantify accurately support/opposition for a referendum. However, in discussions with candidates or through media commentary we have identified an additional 22 deputies in Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil who support at least some widening of abortion access in Ireland.”

Opposed

It adds that about 25 TDs are personally opposed to abortion but it is unknown if they would oppose holding a referendum on the issue while 11 TDs describe their position as undecided.

The coalition’s convenor Ailbhe Smyth said support for a referendum on the Eighth Amendment has been “growing with a rapidity that has been quite extraordinary”.

She said it would have been unthinkable a year ago that Fine Gael TDs, whatever their personal opinions, would sign a pledge giving support to a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment.

She added that the campaigners would now start writing to all 158 TDs in the new Dáil seeking their support for repeal.

Last year Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he was in favour of setting up a citizens’ assembly within six months of a new government, composed “properly of a fair regional and gender spread”, to look at the question of the Eighth Amendment.