THE LANDMARK BILL that will allow for abortion in Ireland in limited circumstances passed the final Dáil vote this evening.

The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill passed a Dáil vote this evening by 127 t0 31 meaning it will now progress to the Seanad.

The bill was the subject of intense debate over the past number of months, and TDs tabled a total of 165 amendments to the document that were discussed today.

Fianna Fáil was the only party where members were allowed a free vote on the issue, and 14 members voted against the bill:

1. Michael McGrath (Cork South Central)
2. John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny)
3. Seamus Kirk (Louth)
4. Dara Calleary (Mayo)
5. John Browne (Wexford)
6. Éamon Ó Cuiv (Galway West)
7. Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East),
8. Brendan Smith (Cavan Monaghan)
9. Sean Ó Fearghail (Kildare South)
10. Willie O’Dea (Limerick)
11. Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath)
12. Michael Kitt (Galway East)
13. Seán Fleming (Laois Offaly)
14. Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West)

In total, five Fine Gael TDs voted against the change in legislation:

• Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South-East)
• Brian Walsh (Galway West),
• Peter Mathews (Dublin South),
• Billy Timmins (Wicklow)
• Terence Flanagan (Dublin North-East)

One Sinn Féin member voted against the bill:

• Peadar Tóibín (Meath West)

Finally, eleven independents opposed the bill:

• Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South)
• Michael Lowry (Tipperary North)
• Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South)
• Colm Keaveney (Galway East)
• Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim)
• Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim)
• Clare Daly (Dublin North)
• Joan Collins TD (Dublin South Central)
• Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire)
• Joe Higgins (Dublin West)
• Mick Wallace (Wexford)

Tommy Broughan, Tom Fleming and Róisín Shortall abstained from the vote. Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore is in the US, and Fine Gael’s Nicky McFadden and independents Noel Grealish and Maureen O’Sullivan were absent for the vote.

- Additional reporting by Michelle Hennessy.

Read: Abortion bill passes final Dáil vote>
Read: Róisín Shortall has pop at “arrogant” Government>

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