An abortion bill which passed its second stage in the Dáil on Wednesday evening, “goes miles beyond what people voted for”, according to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, who is himself strongly pro-choice.

The Bill removes virtually all restrictions on the procedure.

Government TDs were given a free vote. Although an opposition Bill, it passed by 67-64. There were eight abstentions.

Mr Donnelly told Newstalk Breakfast that he abstained because the Bill did not respect the will of the people expressed in the referendum of May 2018.

“I actually looked at the Bill in great detail. The Bill goes miles beyond what people voted for in repealing the Eighth. I made this point to Deputy Smith and to others who were supporting the Bill during the second stage debate.

“I campaigned very hard for Repeal, but the Bill does not respect that vote at all because it goes way beyond that vote.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also sounded a note of caution. He campaigned for repealing the right to life, “but I also believe that when we called for a Yes vote at the time we gave people certain assurances. Those assurances were set out at the time.”

Mr Varadkar said: “This is a sensitive issue, it’s an issue of conscience. It’s about the rights of woman and also about the rights of children.”