Fine Gael TDs are set to demand a free vote on abortion legislation from Enda Kenny to prevent a serious split in the party.

Three of Mr Kenny’s TDs will almost definitely vote against the Protection of Life Bill, the Irish Independent reports.

A further dozen members are still expressing strong concerns about the legislation, which will allow women who threaten to commit suicide to obtain an abortion if two psychiatrists agree, despite the lack of medical evidence that abortion is a treatment for suicidal ideation.

It is believed that some of these 12 TDs may also vote against the bill.

Fine Gael TDs Peter Mathews from Dublin South, Terence Flanagan from Dublin North East and Brian Walsh are regarded as certainties to vote against the legislation.

Mr Kenny’s constituency colleague John O’Mahony, from Mayo, is viewed by the party hierarchy as also in danger of going overboard.

Junior minister Lucinda Creighton is understood to still have concerns and is not committing to voting for the legislation.

There is a further group with concerns, but regarded as not likely to vote against the party whip, including TDs James Bannon, Ray Butler, Paudie Coffey, Sean Conlon, Noel Coonan, Michael Creed and John Deasy and Senator Paul Coghlan.

However Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone, who has expressed reservations about the inclusion of suicide as grounds for abortion in the past, now says she is satisfied with the safeguards in the bill.

Mr Mathews is tabling motions at next week’s meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party calling for a free vote and the removal of the suicide clause from the bill. Although these motions will be defeated, they could still get a lot of support.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams last night warned a party TD would be disciplined if he voted against the party’s position on the abortion legislation.

The party’s enterprise spokesman Peadar Toibin says he will vote against the legislation, even though Sinn Fein has clearly indicated it will be supporting the bill.

“It would be a serious breach of party rules for any TD to vote against the party position and they would be subject to party discipline,” said Mr Adams.