The Dáil has passed the final stages of the Criminal Justice Bill, by a vote of 62 to 11.
The Bill was opposed by Sinn Féin, the Green Party and a number of Independents, while Fine Gael and Labour abstained.
The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, originally intended to have the Criminal Justice Bill passed into law before the Dáil's Easter recess but he bowed to Opposition demands for more time to debate some of its more controversial aspects.
It has now passed its final stages in the Dáil and will be debated in the Seanad, where it should conclude by Friday.
