The second stage of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill has been passed in the Dail by 138 votes to 24.

A total of four Fine Gael TDs voted against the Bill - Billy Timmins, Peter Mathews, Brian Walsh and Terence Flanagan. They now face immediate expulsion from the Fine Gael parliamentary party.

However Minister of State, Lucinda Creighton, who had voiced serious concerns about the Bill, has voted in favour of it.

Thirteen of Fianna Fail's 19 TDs voted against the Bill.