Debate ends as abortion Bill passes Dáil vote

By Mary Regan, Political Correspondent

The right of a woman to access abortion to save her life - including from suicide - has been enshrined for the first time in Irish legislation following a historic Dáil vote shortly after midnight.

TDs from all parties lined up to shake the hand of Health Minister James Reilly after the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill was passed by 127 votes to 31.

Pro-life protesters who had gathered outside Leinster House reciting rosaries through the night could be heard booing after the legislation was passed.

Lucinda Creighton was expelled from the Fine Gael parliamentary party and resigned as Junior Minister for European Affairs after she earlier defied the Government whip and voted against an amendment that would have removed most of the suicide clause from the Bill.

The Dublin South East TD will join four other of her party's TDs in moving across to the opposition benches because of their failure to vote for the legislation.

Fianna Fáil TD Michael Moynihan - who had supported the Bill in earlier votes - changed his mind and joined 13 of his party colleagues in opposing it.

This meant that just five TDs from the party - including its leader Micheál Martin - supported it.