Ireland – Abortion campaigners hail ‘historic day’ but eye changes

Abortion campaigners hail ‘historic day’ but eye changes
Activists celebrate but urge full decriminalisation and removal of three-day wait period

Dec 13, 2018
Jennifer Bray

Ailbhe Smyth heard around 4pm that there was a possibility that legislation clearing the way for abortion in Ireland could pass earlier than the expected 10pm finishing time.

She hopped on a Luas and headed to the city centre to make her way to Leinster House. Following years of effort, this was not a moment to miss. She was not alone.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/abortion-campaigners-hail-historic-day-but-eye-changes-1.3730715

Ireland: The Abortion Bill passes the first house

FEATURE - Ireland: The Abortion Bill passes the first house
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International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortion.
11 December 2018

Abortion bill passed by a large majority

On 6 December 2018, the lower house of the Irish parliament passed the Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill at midnight with a vote of 90 for, 15 against, and 12 abstentions, after hours of debate and consideration of 60 amendments, almost all of which were voted down with large majorities. Minister of Health Simon Harris remained in strict control throughout the process, rejecting amendments by pro-choice members to make the bill less restrictive and by conservative/anti-abortion members to make it more restrictive, claiming throughout that he was determined to give the people the bill he promised before the referendum on the 8th Amendment to the Constitution in May. A small number of conservative members fought till the end, talking at length each amendment. Then, finally, it was passed. It moved the very next morning to the upper house. Ivana Bacik, a Labour Party member in the upper house, said she thought it very likely that the bill would become law before the holiday recess later this month.

Continued: https://mailchi.mp/safeabortionwomensright/feature-ireland-the-abortion-bill-passes-the-first-house-11-december-2018?e=372dd34034

Ireland – Abortion law may be held up by the Seanad

Abortion law may be held up by the Seanad
Legislation’s passage could be delayed due to the number of Amendments tabled

Mon, Dec 10, 2018
Pat Leahy

A large number of amendments have been submitted for the Seanad debate on abortion legislation that begins today, threatening Government plans to have it on the statute books by Christmas.

More than 60 amendments have been put down to the Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill, which passed through the Dáil last week after lengthy debates over several days and a late-night vote.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-law-may-be-held-up-by-the-seanad-1.3725474

Ireland – Abortion legislation in the Seanad – it’s not going to be easy

Abortion legislation in the Seanad - it's not going to be easy

Sunday, 9 Dec 2018
By Ailbhe Conneely, RTÉ News Political reporter

On Wednesday evening, as the clock ticked towards to midnight, the report stage of the Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill completed its journey through the Dáil.

It was an historic occasion for pro-choice politicians who campaigned for the introduction of abortion services.

For opponents the fight continues.

Continued: https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2018/1207/1015880-abortion-legislation-seanad/

09.12.2018

Featured

News

abortion bill in the Seanad

amendments to Irish abortion law

Catherine Noone

Oireachtas Eighth Amendment committee

Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill

Ronan Mullen

Simon Harris

three-day waiting period

Irish Lawmakers Vote to Allow Abortion, Part of Landmark Liberal Shift

Irish Lawmakers Vote to Allow Abortion, Part of Landmark Liberal Shift

By Ed O’Loughlin
Dec. 6, 2018

DUBLIN — Fighting off last-ditch resistance, Irish lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a bill introducing free and legal abortion to a nation that was long a bastion of staunchly conservative Catholicism, seven months after voters repealed a constitutional ban on abortion.

An often heated session of the Parliament’s lower house on Wednesday had to be extended several times, as a small number of members — mainly independent conservatives — talked at length on dozens of amendments, almost all of which were voted down by large majorities. The bill’s opponents attempted to prolong the debate even further, which could have derailed the government’s plan to make abortion available in January.

continued: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/06/world/europe/ireland-legal-abortion-vote.html

Irish parliament’s lower house passes historic bill to legalise abortion

Irish parliament's lower house passes historic bill to legalise abortion
Politicians are racing to have law in place by January

Adam Withnall
Dec 5, 2018

The lower house of Ireland's parliament has passed historic legislation to make abortion legal for the first time, after members voted overwhelmingly in favour at the stroke of midnight on Wednesday.

The bill put before the lower house, the Dáil, would legalise free access to abortion up to 12 weeks. After that, it would permit abortion only in cases where the woman was at risk of serious harm or death, or where a doctor has given a diagnosis of a fatal foetal abnormality.

Continued: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ireland-abortion-irish-parliament-dail-bill-legalise-oireachtas-a8669661.html

05.12.2018

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News

abortion referendum

amendments to Irish abortion law

Eighth Amendment

Irish abortion legislation

Simon Harris

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

This abortion law isn’t what Ireland voted for

This abortion law isn't what Ireland voted for
The Dáil should listen to the voters, not generate red tape that could stop vulnerable people getting the care they need

Emer O’Toole
Tue 4 Dec 2018

In 1983, as the Irish electorate voted in favour of a constitutional ban on abortion, campaigners warned in bold print: “This Amendment Could Kill Women.”

It did.

Following the tragedy of Savita Halappanavar’s death in 2012, Irish politicians were forced to legislate on a 20-year-old supreme court decision, one that consecutive governments had conspicuously kicked into the long grass. In 1992, a judge had ruled that a suicidal teenage rape victim had the right to an abortion. When the government finally produced the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, it was so clearly unfit for purpose that the Abortion Rights Campaign doubted it would enable a suicidal teenage rape victim to access a termination at all.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/04/abortion-law-ireland-voted-dail-listen

Ireland – Abortion: These were the amendments passed by TDs this week

Abortion: These were the amendments passed by TDs this week

Sat Dec 1, 2018

AFTER 15 HOURS of debate this week, the abortion legislation is yet to pass Report Stage in the Dáil.

It is likely the landmark bill to regulate abortion services in Ireland will pass in the Dáil at the earliest next week.

Continued: https://www.thejournal.ie/abortion-legislation-dail-4366901-Dec2018/

IReland – Simon Harris warns TDs against attempting to ‘frustrate or delay’ abortion bill

Simon Harris warns TDs against attempting to ‘frustrate or delay’ abortion bill

Monday, November 12, 2018
By Elaine Loughlin, Political Correspondent

The Health Minister has sent a clear warning to TDs who intend to use tactics to delay abortion legislation when it comes back before the Dáil.

Simon Harris has set down an extremely tight time-frame to get the legislation through the Oireachtas before Christmas and to get doctors on board with providing termination services from the start of January.

Continued: https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/simon-harris-warns-tds-against-attempting-to-frustrate-or-delay-abortion-bill-884779.html

Ireland – Abortion Bill to attract resubmitted amendments by TDs

Abortion Bill to attract resubmitted amendments by TDs
Both sides to continue with efforts to modify legislation at report stage later in November

Nov 11, 2018
Pat Leahy

Both anti-abortion and pro-choice TDs will continue their attempts to amend the abortion legislation when it returns to the Dáil for report stage later this month.

The Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill, which will legalise abortion following the referendum on the constitutional amendment in May, passed its committee stage this week after three days of sometimes fractious hearings.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-bill-to-attract-resubmitted-amendments-by-tds-1.3694265