Almost nine out every ten of voters believe Taoiseach Enda Kenny should not impose a party whip on TDs unhappy with his abortion legislation, according to a new opinion poll.

The finding, in a survey carried out by Amárach Consulting on behalf of Family and Life, comes amid growing calls for TDs to be allowed a free vote on the Government’s abortion bill, the Irish Catholic reports.

It is thought that a significant number of Fine Gael TDs and Senators may vote against the Government and lose the whip. To date, TDs Peter Mathews and Brian Walsh and Senator Fidelma Healy Eames have said they will vote against the Bill.

Asked whether the Taoiseach should permit a free vote rather than requiring politicians follow the party line, 86pc of those polled said a free vote should be allowed.  

Of Fine Gael voters, a substantial 74pc believed Mr Kenny should allow a free vote.

The poll also shows that a majority of Fianna Fáil supporters and a significant minority of Fine Gael supporters say they are less likely to vote for TDs who support the controversial legalisation of abortion.

Meanwhile, the poll also showed overwhelming support for allowing voters, rather than politicians, decide on the issue of abortion. The survey showed that 86pc of adults supported putting the matter to the people by way of a referendum. Women, under-35s and Fianna Fáil supporters are more likely to be in favour of a referendum.

When it comes to the issue of voting intentions, a substantial 58pc of Fianna Fáil supporters say they would be less likely to support a TD in a future election who voted in favour of abortion in the Dáil division on the issue.  

For Fine Gael voters, 43pc of supporters said they would be less likely to support a candidate in favour of the legislation and 34pc of Sinn Féin voters agreed that they’d be less likely to support party TDs who back abortion.  

Just 16pc of Labour supporters and 29pc of Independent supporters said a candidates’ support for abortion would make them less likely to vote to re-elect that candidate.

Taken together, the results show a sizeable proportion of the electorate less likely to back candidates who support the abortion legislation.

Meanwhile, a large number of Fine Gael politicians are concerned over supporting the parliamentary party during the vote on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, according to the Pro Life Campaign.

Group spokeswoman Caroline Simons said a very significant number of Fine Gael members felt uncomfortable with the bill, but she would not give out an estimate as to how many TDs were feeling this way.

“There is a real danger to our democracy if people are prevented from voting according to their consciences on life-and-death issues,” she said.

“Political parties in other countries, including Britain, don’t have a problem with a free vote on crucial issues.

The sky doesn’t fall. In fact, democracy is strengthened because the full range of viewpoints is properly represented as a result.”

Ms Simons was speaking after Brian Walsh TD became the latest Fine Gael Oireachtas member to declare his opposition to the Bill.  

Mr Walsh also predicted that as many as 10 Fine Gael TDs and Senators could break the whip on the issue, adding that the large contingent of young and first-time Dáil TDs in the party were “wrestling with their conscience”.  

He told RTÉ. “They are choosing between their conscience and their livelihoods.”

“This has the potential to impact on their careers. They have families depending on them, children. They’re effectively forced to chose between their conscience and their livelihoods,” he said. “They’re being asked to chose between their Fine Gael values and Fine Gael.”

Mr Walsh suggested that Taoiseach Enda Kenny might have to reconsider threats that Fine Gael TDs and senators who vote against the legislation will be excluded from the parliamentary party.