TDs should be given a free vote in the Dáil on matters of conscience, such as the right to life of the unborn and abortion-related issues, according to Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett.

Speaking to The Irish Times, Mr Barrett also suggested he might resign his position and return to the Fine Gael backbenches before the next general election.

He drew on his experiences as government chief whip in the Fine Gael-Labour coalition between 1982 and 1986, which dealt with the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, giving equal rights to the mother and the unborn, when referring to voting on matters of conscience.

Dáil defeat

That government was defeated in a Dáil vote on its reworded amendment, and the original was passed in a referendum.

Mr Barrett said he was “proud of the fact that we told the public honestly what it was and I don’t take delight in the fact that we were proven right now”.

“Look at the problems we are faced with. We were trying to find an alternative. Anyway, we were defeated in the Dáil.

“We lost some members [TDs]. And I’d say the vast majority of people who voted against, voted in accordance with their conscience.

Whip system

“I’m not in favour of abortion myself, personally, but this wasn’t about abortion. This was about a wording that was going to cause difficulties.

“I often felt that on issues like that, the whip system doesn’t do any good. That’s a personal opinion and I still hold that view because it distorts the debate and gives the public, maybe, wrong information and it doesn’t allow for an open, technical debate on a written constitution.”

He said TDs who signed up to proposals in all sincerity and honesty could then be put in a position of responsibility and have to make hard decisions.