The Seanad has voted in favour of the proposed abortion law. The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill passed its first vote by 41 votes to 15.
Senators will now deal with possible amendments to the bill for the rest of the week. However Fine Gael has lost two more members who voted against the Bill.
The successful vote comes after an emotional debate in the Seanad, where members were deeply divided over the bill. Fidelma Healy-Eames now loses the Fine Gael whip after rejecting the Bill. She said earlier she was sad to have to oppose it.
The votes of Healy-Eames and Paul Bradford - who is married to Lucinda Creighton - means Fine Gael has now lost 7 members who voted against the Bill.
Meanwhile Averil Power of Fianna Fáil, who was put up for adoption after an unwanted pregnancy, said her vote in favour was a difficult decision to make.
