No free vote on abortion legislation

The Government's abortion legislation will take a first step towards becoming law when it is introduced in the Dáil today.

Last night Fine Gael backbencher Peter Matthews tried to bring a motion to the Parliamentary Party to call for a vote on "freedom of conscience".

He failed to get another member to second it however, and the Taoiseach Enda Kenny again stated there would be no free vote and the whip would be applied.

This morning, the Dáil will begin debating the legislation for the first time.

The Taoiseach's promised as much time as necessary for every Deputy that wants to, to have a say on the legislation.

But that too may be limited as the first vote is pencilled in for this day week, with the legislation then being sent to committee.

The number of Fine Gael TDs who will defy the party whip on the legislation remains to be seen.