The abortion bill has now officially passed all stages in the Oireachtas and as a result, abortion is now legal in Ireland.
Terminations up to twelve weeks will be made available to women across Ireland from January 1, 2019.
There has been a significant amount of back and forth from senators and TDS concerning specific terms of the bill but this has now come to an end.
? Abortion bill passes the #Seanad, 27 votes to 5, and is on its way to be signed into law by President Higgins within the next week. #legisl8 ?
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) December 13, 2018
Following nine hours of debate today, it was officially passed by 27 votes to five and it will now go to President Michael D. Higgins to be signed into law.
Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone said that her thoughts are with Savita Halappanavar and the ‘women in crisis’ who were left abandoned.
Senator Noone was the chairperson of the Oireachtas Eighth Amendment Committee and she was the first to speak following the passing of the bill in the Seanad tonight.
The Abortion Bill has just passed all stages in the Oireachtas & now goes to the President for signing.
On this emotional & historic day my thoughts are of Savita & all of the women in crisis our laws have abandoned – Never Again!#Legisl8 #repealedthe8th #WeChangedtheLaw pic.twitter.com/AGplU82zY5
— Sen Catherine Noone (@senatornoone) December 13, 2018