Fianna Fáil TDs will have a free vote on whether to support the recommendations of an Oireachtas Committee to legalise ‘assisted dying’.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said “it will be a vote of conscience for every individual of the Fianna Fáil party”.

He told People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny that “within the Fianna Fáil party we’ve had a view for close to a decade now that issues to do with life, are an issue of conscience and that will remain the position in respect of this”.

But he said: “I myself don’t agree with this legislation. I have really serious reservations about it.”

Mr Kenny himself has called for all Government parties to allow a free vote on the issue.

The Final Report of the Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying, published in March, was debated in the Dáil last Thursday afternoon and will be voted on Wednesday of this week.

It is possible the report could be accepted by the Dáil, but it still leaves it for the next Government to take action, Mr Kenny said.