A bill brought in by Sinn Féin, removing the three day mandatory wait for access to abortion services, has been approved by the Dáil.
The bill, which was voted in favour for by 86 votes versus 70 against, will now go before an Oireachtas committee for further scrutiny. The proposal was backed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien and Public Expenditure Minister, Jack Chambers.
It has been reported that Health Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will now hold discussions with Attorney General, Rossa Fanning, and this bill could be put into law by the end of this year.
Most Fianna Fáil TDs had voted against the proposal, including five Cabinet members, Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Children, Norma Foley, Minister for Housing, James Browne, and Government Chief Whip, Mary Butler.
Overall, 30 Fianna Fáil TDs voted against the bill, with 12 voting in favour of it, and six absent.
Along with Fianna Fáil, most Fine Gael TDs also voted against the proposal regarding abortion, with Tanaiste, Simon Harris, and Health Minister MacNeill the only Fine Gael TDs to back this proposal.
Twenty three Fine Gael TDs had voted against the bill, including Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, and Minister for Enterprise, Peter Burke, with eleven TDs voting in favour.
Among those who were absent from the bench were Minister for Foreign Affaires, Helen McEntee, Minister for Education, Hildergarde Naughton, Minister for Communications, Patrick O'Donovan.
Among the Fine Gael TDs to vote against the bill, was Galway East TD, Peter Roche, who said his decision was down to the number of women who change their mind during this three day waiting period. Other Fine Gael TDs voting against the bill included Wicklow-Wexford TD Brian Brennan and Tipperary South TD, Michael Murphy.
Barry Ward, TD for Fine Gael Dún Laoghaire, said that he would vote in favour of this bill brought in by Sinn Féin, having previously voted for the Social Democrats bill last month, which had further provisions.
Elsewhere, Aontú leader, and Meath West TD, Peadar Tóibín said his party would speak to Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and Independent TDs, who he claims are not happy with how this vote was handled.
