Anne Ferris has said she no choice in voting against the Labour party in this evening’s Dáil vote on abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities. Speaking after the vote, Ferris said she “could not but have supported Clare Daly’s bill.”

Wicklow TD Ferris has been expelled from the Parliamentary Labour Party following the vote, but has said she felt she had no choice in the matter.

“I feel bad having voted against my own party and the government on this but it’s an issue very close to my heart and I could not but have supported Clare Daly’s bill,” Ferris said.

“We are forcing them to go to England to have terminations of a much wanted and much loved baby. I think that is really, really wrong. That service should be available in this country,” she added.

Despite reservations in recent days other Labour TDs sided with the Government to vote down the bill by 104 to 20 - the Attorney General deemed the proposal to be unconstitutional.

Ferris defended the performance of Labour leader Joan Burton, shortly after losing the party whip as she supported a bill on abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities.

Ferris said Burton “has to take a stance on this situation” and Burton chose to side with coalition partners Fine Gael.

Ferris, however, believes there needs to be action on the issue before the general election.

“I understand that we do need to repeal the eighth amendment but I would have preferred, and indeed I called for it, that we do it in this term of government.

“I never really subscribed to the fact that we should push it back until after the general election,” she said.

Other TDs whose intentions were unknown - Sean Kenny, Ciara Conway, and Michael McNamara - all voted against the bill in line with Labour wishes. Dominic Hannigan was absent with leave.