A CHALLENGE to the abortion law is expected to be launched in the near future.
But there are doubts over the ability of pro-life groups to go to the courts without sufficient grounds.
President Michael D Higgins signed the historic abortion legislation into law yesterday.
The President had until today to decide if he was going to sign the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 or refer it to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality.
President Higgins's
decision to sign the law is in line with the advice he received from
some prominent members of the Council of State, as revealed in
yesterday's Irish Independent.
The Pro-Life Campaign said the passage of the abortion legislation bill into law was a "very sad day for our country".
The group vowed to devote its energies to the repeal of "this unjust law".
Campaign
spokesperson Caroline Simons said the group would give "very careful
consideration" to the best way to bring this about.
"For the first
time in our history it makes it legal to deliberately target the life
of an innocent human being," Ms Simons said.
"We have seen the biggest ever gatherings of pro-life people in recent weeks.
"The passage of this bill into law marks a new beginning, not an end for pro-life activism," she added.
The Government welcomed the President's decision to sign the legislation as it believed the bill was constitutional.
Coalition
sources expect a challenge to the legislation, but say there is also
uncertainty around who exactly would have a justifiable case to take to
court.
"The real difficulty will be for somebody to find a ground
on which to take a case. There's a presumption there will be a challenge
but on what grounds," a source said.
A statement from Aras an Uachtarain at precisely 12 noon yesterday said: "President Higgins has today signed the bill into law."