Irish parliament votes to remove three-day abortion wait
Summary
Ireland’s parliament has voted to remove the mandatory three-day waiting period for abortion during early pregnancy. The bill passed with 86 votes in favor and 70 against and will now go to a parliamentary committee before becoming law.Key Facts
- The three-day wait rule applied to abortions up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
- The waiting period was introduced before the 2018 referendum that legalized abortion in Ireland.
- Supporters say the wait was an unnecessary barrier for women seeking abortions.
- Opponents argue the wait provided important time for reflection and was supported by voters in the referendum.
- The bill was sponsored by Sinn Féin and supported by some members of the current ruling coalition.
- Official figures show about 10,400 women did not return for a second abortion consultation after the waiting period between 2019 and 2024.
- Some politicians fear changing the rule could upset voters who expected safeguards with abortion legalization.
- The legislation is expected to become law later this or next year after committee review.
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