Ireland legalises abortion for the first time ever after backlash against strict laws following death of Indian dentist suffering miscarriage

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 passed after late night debate

127 members of the Dail parliament voted in favour and 31 against

Law enshrines a woman's right to termination if her life is at risk

Controversial Bill includes right to seek abortion if woman is suicidal



Law change comes after Savita Halappanavar died in Irish hospital last year



Death in October prompted worldwide outcry after she was refused termination because 'Ireland is a Catholic country'

Pressure for change came after Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar died after being denied an abortion

The Irish Government has passed landmark legislation today to allow abortion in the country in certain circumstances.



The laws enshrine a woman's right to a termination if her life is at risk, including if she is at risk of taking her own life.



The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 was passed c omfortably at about 12.30am today after a second late night of debates, with 127 members of the Dail parliament voting in favour and just 31 against.



Pressure to amend Ireland's strict abortion laws came after a backlash following the death of Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar, who died in an Irish hospital last year after being denied an abortion.



She was miscarrying 17 weeks into her pregnancy in October but doctors would not terminate the pregnancy.



Her widower Praveen claimed the couple had been told a termination was not allowed because 'Ireland is a Catholic country', prompting a worldwide outcry.



Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it was time the women of Ireland have the rights they deserve enshrined in law.



The bill was passed as it was revealed yesterday that 11 women travelled from Ireland to Britain every day for an abortion last year.



'We had 21 years of inaction, 21 years of inaction,' Mr Kenny said.

'What's going on here is medical clarity and legal certainty for the women of our country who have had a constitutional right conferred upon them.'

Mr Kenny, a devout Catholic, had been threatened with excommunication by bishops as the controversial law travelled through the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The two-day debate wrapped up with the final vote shortly before 12.30am and one minister resigned following the decision.

Irish Government has enshrined in law for the first time a woman's right to a termination if her life is at risk

Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who had been threatened with excommunication if the Bill was passed, said the law change comes after '21 years of inaction'

Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton resigned and automatically lost the party whip after voting against the Government in support of an amendment to the Bill.



She wanted to change the rule that allowed expectant mothers to seek an abortion on the grounds that she is prepared to take her own life.



She had called for alternative therapies to be offered instead but her demands were ignored.

'I'm very sad,' Ms Creighton said, after casting the vote that sealed her self-imposed exile.

'But at the same time I feel a bit relieved because this is obviously something that's been weighing on everybody's minds for months and months.'

She became the fifth Fine Gael TD to be expelled over the contentious legislation, after four colleagues voted against the Government in an earlier round of votes.

The High Court had earlier rejected a last minute attempt to secure an injunction against the legislation on the grounds that politicians have no right to vote on a bill that contains two provisions that have been previously put to the Irish people in referenda and rejected.

Her husband Praveen Halappanavar (seen together on their wedding day) said they were told she could not have an abortion because 'Ireland is a Catholic country'

Pro-life activists had spent the past 48 hours outside Leinster House, praying beside pro-choice campaigners, some of whom waved placards with Mrs Halappanavar's face.

An inquiry found medics in University Hospital Galway missed an early opportunity to terminate her pregnancy on health grounds and unacceptable clinical practice.

The case sparked massive debate among obstetricians and politicians over whether the guidelines medics had been operating under were clear.

Campaigners have also pressed for abortion to be allowed in other circumstances, such as fatal foetal abnormalities, but were told that it would not be included.



The legislation follows a 1992 judgment by the Supreme Court in Dublin, known as the X case, where judges ruled that abortion should be allowed if there was a threat to the mother's life, including suicide.

The case was taken by a 14-year-old rape victim who became pregnant and was refused permission by Irish authorities to travel to the UK for an abortion.

An inquiry into Mrs Halappanavar found medics in University Hospital Galway (pictured) missed an early opportunity to terminate her pregnancy on health grounds and unacceptable clinical practice

Ireland was also under pressure after a European Court of Human Rights ruling that a woman in remission with cancer was discriminated against because she was forced to travel overseas for a termination.

The Fine Gael-Labour coalition government is the first in the 21 years since the X case to attempt to pass legislation on abortion.

The bill will next be considered by the Seanad - the upper house of parliament - where it will be passed.

After that, provided there are no demands for further amendments, the legislation will be brought to President Michael D Higgins who will sign off on it and enshrine it into Irish law.

However, he also has the option of referring it to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality or he can convene a meeting of the Council of State, which also advises the president on whether a law is constitutional.