Laws on abortion move a step closer to being enacted today when the Seanad begins 2 days of debate on possible amendments to the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.

The government may be poised to lose more members who could oppose the controversial suicide clause.

After yesterday voting to send the Bill into committee stage, today the Seanad will begin considering more detailed amendments to the Bill.

Like the Dáil, there are many changes on the table - some of which would extend the Bill, to the victims of rape and incest, and some of which would scale back the criteria under which an abortion is allowed.

Because the Bill has already passed the Dáil, any amendments made now would have to go back to the Dáil to be approved again - so it's not likely that any changes will be accepted.

This means the main issue now is whether the government benches will survive without any more defections. Yesterday 2 Fine Gael senators, Fidelma Healy Eames and Paul Bradford, voted against the Bill and left Fine Gael.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames pictured

Senator Paul Bradford, who is married to Lucinda Creighton - the TD who resigned her ministry last week

A handful of other senators are known to have issues with the suicide clause, however, and could vote to get rid of it when the vote is finally held.

There'll be 2 days of debates on the proposed amendments, before a final vote is expected next Monday. The Bill then goes to the President to be signed into law.