President Michael D. Higgins has signed the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill into law.

In a statement Áras an Uachtaráin says he made the decision today.

It comes after the President convened a meeting of the Council of State to discuss the Bill yesterday. The Bill could have been referred to the Supreme Court to test its Constitutionality.

If it was declared in keeping with the Constitution at that stage, it could never again be challenged.

President Higgins and the group of 21 discussed the Bill for around three-and-a-half hours. The Council is made up of former Taoisigh and Chief Justices, former and current politicians and 7 appointees of the President.

But former Taoisigh John Bruton and Albert Reynolds and former President Mary Robinson were unable to attend.

This means Irish law now allows for the termination of a pregnancy when the life of the woman is at risk in 3 circumstances: in the case of a medical emergency, medical treatment for an illness such as cancer and in cases of suicide because of the pregnancy.