‘It was my expressed wish that members of my party would vote in the way they wished on this issue,’ said Simon Harris

Micheál Martin says Bill should go to committee stage; Government TDs will have free vote as a ‘matter of conscience’

Support of main Opposition parties and some Independents expected to secure the 87 votes needed for measure to advance

Abortion may not be the defining social and political issue it once was, but securing a change to reproductive rights would still be significant

Proposal will abolish compulsory three-day wait for access

Vote aiming to remove the three-day wait for services expected to pass

‘It was my expressed wish that members of my party would vote in the way they wished on this issue,’ said Simon Harris

While there is a long way to go with the legislation, the three-day waiting period looks set to be abolished

Possible leadership contenders O’Callaghan and Calleary vote against removing three-day waiting period