Dáil passes abortion bill to remove mandatory three-day waiting period

Government officials voted on the abortion bill last night.

In Ireland, there is currently a three-day waiting period between GP consultations and an abortion up to 12 weeks. New Sinn Féin legislation would remove this mandatory wait.

All government TDs had a free vote on the bill as a matter of conscience; however, over 60% of both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs voted against the bill.

Party leaders Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris both approved the legislation to remove the waiting period.

Fine Gael Dún Laoghaire TD Barry Ward previously said that he would vote in favour of the Sinn Féin bill.

"You don't have to think abortion is a good or desirable thing to believe that it is a matter for each individual to make the decision if it is the right thing for them," he said.

"We have to presume that women will think long and carefully about such an important decision, and the presence of a mandatory three-day waiting period assumes the opposite."

"We have to trust women to make the right decision for their specific circumstances," he added.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said she welcomed the passage of the legislation.

"This is an important step forward for women's healthcare and one of the most significant changes since we voted to repeal the 8th amendment," she added.

"Women, healthcare providers and campaigners have long called for this unnecessary barrier to be removed."

Minister for Children Norma Foley was one of the TD's who voted against the legislation.

"Personally, I won't be voting to remove the three-day wait," she said.

"I believe when it was put to the people in 2018, that was part of what was put to the people, so I won't be voting to support the removal of the three-day wait."

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, who also voted against the bill, said that he believes there is "no public appetite" to remove the three-day wait.

Now that the bill has passed in the Dáil, it will go before an Oireachtas committee for further examination.