The Seanad has welcomed its newest member, former Fine Gael mayor of Galway Hildegarde Naughton.
She was nominated by Taoiseach Enda Kenny last week to replace Martin McAleese, who stepped down following the publication of his report on the Magdalene Laundries.
However, another Galway Senator, Fidelma Healy Eames, who lost the Fine Gael whip when she voted against the Government on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, said she was surprised at Mr Kenny's choice.
Senator Naughton is considered a constituency rival to Senator Healy Eames in Galway West.
Speaking to RTÉ, she said she welcomed the nomination but by making it the Taoiseach was putting out a strong message that there was no place for a personal vote or a conscience vote on something as serious as abortion.
Fianna Fáil Senator Brian O Domhnaill said it was disingenuous, as he put it, for the Taoiseach to nominate Ms Naughton to a body he was trying to get rid of.
Independent Senator Sean Barrett said he hoped she would be in the Seanad for many years to come.
Meanwhile, Young Fine Gael members have declined to back the party's plan to abolish Seanad Éireann.
A motion calling for the abolition of the Seanad resulted in a tied vote by the national executive of the party's youth wing.
The tie came in a secret ballot at its Garret FitzGerald Summer School in Kilkenny.
The youth organisation has decided as a result to adopt a neutral position in the upcoming referendum.
It says that all members of Young Fine Gael will be free to campaign according to their personal views on the issue.
