The committee stage of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill resumes this morning, following over three hours of debate last night.

It is during this stage that amendments to the proposed legislation are considered.

Yesterday evening, the second stage of the Bill was 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 have been expelled from the Fine Gael parliamentary party as a result and will also be removed from any Oireachtas committees on which they serve.

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

While only the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, and members of the Dail sub-committee on health can vote or propose amendments to the committee stage of the Bill, all TDs can attend and all are entitled to speak for as long as they wish.