Interview With Lucinda Creighton, Ireland's European Affairs Minister...Lucinda Creighton, Ireland's minister of European Affairs, speaks during an interview in New York, U.S., on Tuesday, May 28, 2013. Creighton, was formerly a a lawmaker with Fine Gael, the biggest Irish opposition party. Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg...A

The abortion bill passed all stages in the Dail in the early hours of this morning by 127 votes to 31, and will now be sent to the Seanad.

The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill has been passed. After lengthy debate, a majority vote of 127 to 31 for the bill was given after midnight.

The final vote in the Dail on the abortion legislation was passed at 12:25am.

The Report and Final Stage vote on Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, 2013 was passed by 127 votes to 31 votes.

The result saw a number of changes from the vote last week on the Second Stage of the legislation, which was passed by 138 to 24.

Aside from Fine Gael's Lucinda Creighton, the switches from the Yes to the No side included a group of left-wing opposition TDs, Joe Higgins, Clare Daly, Joan Collins, Richard Boyd Barrett, Luke 'Ming' Flanagan and Mick Wallace.

Mr Higgins was absent from last week's vote due to the death of his mother.

But Fianna Fáil TD Michael Moynihan also swapped sides, meaning 14 of Micheal Martin's TDs voted against the legislation versus just five in favour.

Absent from last night's vote were Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore, away in the United States, plus Fine Gael's Nicky McFadden and Independents Noel Grealish and Maureen O'Sullivan.

And there were three abstentions, Independent Tom Fleming and Independent Labour's Tommy Broughan and Roisin Shortall.

Online Editors