Varadkar reveals he considered two-step vote on abortion

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has revealed that he considered holding two votes on abortion - a referendum and a plebiscite - earlier this year.

Varadkar said, in an interview for a new biography of him, that the idea of holding a referendum on repealing the Eighth Amendment and a plebiscite asking voters if they agreed with abortion on request up to 12 weeks was considered.

“We were genuinely worried the referendum would be defeated ...