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The Life Institute, has said that the Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has aligned himself with the 'extreme left and with abortion on demand' by his comments in the Dáil yesterday in supporting of widening abortion availability in Ireland.

Spokeswoman Niamh Uí Bhriain said "Mr Varadkar was trying to talk out of the two sides of his mouth on abortion but that he was fooling no-one, and that he had pushed Fine Gael into alignment with the extreme left and with abortion on demand by his comments".

"Fine Gael won't back down on water charges because they want to maintain their position on the political spectrum on water, but they are now happy to adopt the position of their left-wing opponents on killing unborn children," said Ms Uí Bhriain.

"Leo Varadkar wants to claim he is pro-life but then wants abortion legalised on vague grounds such as health and disability, grounds which have led to abortion on demand in every other jurisdiction," she said. "It seems he is not happy with the legislation enacted last year which allows for abortion until birth. Maybe he is looking for a role in the Socialist Party given Fine Gael's almighty crash in the polls."

She also described Mr Varadkar's comments as bizarre and enormously hurtful in relation to children with a life-limiting disorder. "He described these vulnerable children, who are very ill, as 'dead'. It was simply reprehensible. What an ignorant remark for a doctor and a Minister for Health to make."

"Leo Varadkar's comments are the nail in the coffin of any pro-life votes for Fine Gael in the next election," she added. "Political change is coming and Fine Gael will be shown to be on the wrong side of history regarding abortion".