Five years after Ireland’s historic abortion referendum, access to care is still ‘patchy’

By Niamh Kennedy and Emily Blumenthal, CNN
Thu May 25, 2023

In 2018, the Irish public voted overwhelmingly to repeal the country’s Eighth Amendment, overturning one of the strictest abortion bans in the European Union. There were scenes of jubilation as the referendum result was announced, with many in Ireland seeing it as a historic step that would give women control over their own bodies.

But five years on, although abortion is free and legally available in Ireland up to 12 weeks of pregnancy – after that allowed only in exceptional circumstances, if there is a risk to the mother’s life or the fetus is not expected to survive – the abortion system is still far from where campaigners and charities would like it to be.

Continued: https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/25/europe/ireland-abortion-referendum-5-years-intl-cmd/index.html


Ireland – Protesters call for removal of barriers to abortion

Saturday, 29 Oct 2022
By Colman O'Sullivan

Around a thousand people have marched in Dublin to mark the tenth anniversary of the death of Savita Halappanavar and to call for changes to abortion laws.

Speaking at the Garden of Remembrance before the march set off, Orla O'Connor of the National Women's Council called for an end to the three-day waiting period before a woman can get an abortion and the abolition of the 12-week limit.

Continued: https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2022/1029/1332157-abortion/


Ireland – ‘Threat of criminal sanctions’ hangs over medical practitioners who provide abortion services

1 May 2022
Carlow Live

The threat of criminal sanctions hangs over medical practitioners who provide abortion services in Ireland, politicians have been told.

Alison Spillane, a senior policy and research officer at the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA), described to the Oireachtas Health Committee how the fear of prosecution “sits in the consultation room” between patient and doctor.

Continued:  https://www.carlowlive.ie/news/local-news/802205/threat-of-criminal-sanctions-hangs-over-medical-practitioners-who-provide-abortion-services.html


Ireland – Politicians set to hear calls for less restrictive abortion regime

Women’s council plans to address 12-week limit and poor national coverage

Tue, Apr 26, 2022
Cormac McQuinn

Politicians will hear calls for a less restrictive abortion regime, including extending the current 12-week limit to allow terminations on request “up to viability”.

The National Women’s Council (NWC) and the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) will suggest reforms to the rules on abortion when representatives appear before the Oireachtas Health Committee on Wednesday.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/politicians-set-to-hear-calls-for-less-restrictive-abortion-regime-1.4862475


Ireland – Only one in 10 GPs in State provide abortion services, study shows

Coverage a barrier to accessing services in rural and marginalised areas, study finds

May 24, 2021
Sarah Burns

Only one in 10 GPs in the State provide abortion services, according to a paper published by the National Women’s Council.

While GPs providing early medical abortions are “very committed”, coverage remains a significant barrier to accessing services in rural areas and in marginalised communities, it states.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/only-one-in-10-gps-in-state-provide-abortion-services-study-shows-1.4574061


Ireland – Coronavirus: Concern crisis could prevent timely access to abortion services

Coronavirus: Concern crisis could prevent timely access to abortion services
Women’s groups say need to visit a GP twice in three days ‘irreconcilable’ with restricted travel

Fri, Mar 27, 2020
Kitty Holland, Social Affairs Correspondent

Doctors and women’s groups are concerned that timely access to abortion services could be compromised during the coronavirus outbreak.

They say the legal requirement that a woman seeking an early medical abortion (before 12 weeks) must make two GP visits, three days apart, is “irreconcilable” with current public health advice to avoid all but essential travel.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/coronavirus-concern-crisis-could-prevent-timely-access-to-abortion-services-1.4213703


Ireland still does not have the women-centred abortion service people voted for

Ireland still does not have the women-centred abortion service people voted for

Published: Thursday, December 19, 2019
National Women’s Council of Ireland

As the first year of legal abortion provision for women in Ireland comes to a close, the Abortion Working Group, chaired by the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) and made up of 23 groups working together to ensure safe access to abortion, today raised urgent concerns about the current state of local services, and a lack of leadership.

Orla O’Connor, Chair of the Abortion Working Group and Director of NWCI said,

Continued: https://www.nwci.ie/learn/article/ireland_still_does_not_have_the_women_centred_abortion_service_people_voted


Ireland – Inquiry into claims woman was contacted by anti-abortion activists

Inquiry into claims woman was contacted by anti-abortion activists

Friday, 1 Feb 2019
By Mary Regan,
Political Reporter

The Health Service Executive is investigating an alleged breach of patient confidentiality after a woman who had a termination at the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street in Dublin claimed she was subsequently contacted by anti-abortion activists.

The HSE and Minister for Health Simon Harris have both said they are very concerned about the allegations that a woman received a phone call last Wednesday from a man who knew her name and was aware that she had accessed a legal abortion two days earlier.

Continued: https://www.rte.ie/news/health/2019/0201/1026924-hse-investiagtion/


Day on which abortion services become legal described as ‘historic day’ for Ireland

Day on which abortion services become legal described as ‘historic day’ for Ireland
Department of Health and HSE websites updated to carry details on available services

Jan 1, 2019
Harry McGee Political Corresondent

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was one of many public figures who on Tuesday welcomed the introduction of legal abortion services in Ireland.

Mr Varadkar said January 1st, 2019, would be marked as the day in which “abortion services become legally available in Ireland”.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/day-on-which-abortion-services-become-legal-described-as-historic-day-for-ireland-1.3745449


Ireland – At least 2,500 women may seek an abortion next year

At least 2,500 women may seek an abortion next year

Eilish O'Regan
December 15 2018

More than 2,500 women may seek a medical abortion from a GP or maternity hospital next year.

The figure is based on the number of early terminations recorded by UK clinics last year among women who travelled from the Republic of Ireland.

Continued: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/at-least-2500-women-may-seek-an-abortion-next-year-37628388.html