Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin has backed repealing the 8th amendment.
In the Dáil this evening, he also backed the Oireachtas committee recommendation of abortion without restriction for up to 12 weeks.
He said the reality is there is abortion in Ireland, and no laws will change that.
"Following a long period of reflection and assessment of evidence before the Oireachtas Committee, I believe that we should remove the 8th amendment from Bunreacht na hÉireann and I will vote accordingly."
Mr. Martin's announcement leaves Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as the only party leader not to air his views on the Eighth Amendment.
