The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill has moved a step closer to becoming law after passing its Committee stage last night.
It will now be referred back to the Dáil for report and final stages next week.
During the Committee stage, the Health Minister refused to delete the suicide clause and insisted the 14 year penalty for a woman procuring an abortion not covered in the laws had to be included.
James Reilly said he was confident the Director of Public Prosecutions would be realistic about bringing any such prosecution:
The coalition's defended the clause in the abortion laws that could see a woman jailed for an illegal abortion.
Attempts by TDs from across the political divide to remove or relax the measure were voted down last night.
Junior Health Minister Alex White says the penalty is needed to make the Bill constitutional:
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