The Seanad will today begin two days of debate on possible amendments to the Abortion bill.
The government could loose more members opposed to the controversial suicide clause.
Yesterday two Fine Gael senators, Fidelma Healy Eames and Paul Bradford, voted against the bill and left Fine Gael.
After yesterday voting to send the bill into committee stage, today the Seanad will begin considering more detailed amendments to the Bill.
Like the Dail, there are many changes on the table - some of which would extend the bill, to the victims of rape and incest, and some of which would scale back the criteria under which an abortion is allowed.
Because the bill has already passed the Dáil, any amendments made now would have to go back to the Dáil to be approved again - so it's not likely that any changes will be accepted.
This means the main issue now is whether the government benches will survive without any more defections.
A handful of other senators are known to have issues with the suicide clause, however, and could vote to get rid of it when the vote is finally held.
There'll be two days of debates on the proposed amendments, before a final vote is expected next Monday. The bill then goes to the President to be signed into law.
There'll be two days of debate on the proposed amendments, before a final vote next Monday. The bill then goes to the President to be signed into law.
