Ireland – Ivana Bacik: How abortion campaign went from ‘desperately lonely’ to ‘tremendously positive’

On a political level, there was very little to cling to as an abortion activist in the 80s and 90s, she says, and religion of course played a large part in that.

May 27, 2023

LABOUR LEADER IVANA Bacik spoke to The Journal about how the route to abortion rights went from being a “desperately lonely” movement on the periphery of society to becoming a mainstream political issue.

The subject of access to abortion stills holds the public’s attention today with a recent review finding that issues such as geographic location, the three-day waiting period and other obstacles still impede women’s access to abortion services.

Continued: https://www.thejournal.ie/ivana-bacik-interview-abortion-rights-ireland-6077186-May2023/

Death and Suffering: The Story Behind Ireland’s Abortion Ban and its Reversal

The death of Savita Halappanavar in an Irish hospital in 2012 after she was denied an abortion during a miscarriage caused outrage across Ireland.

June 27, 2022
By Gretchen E. Ely

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion in the U.S., the nation may find itself on a path similar to that trodden by the Irish people from 1983 to 2018.

Abortion was first prohibited in Ireland through what was called the Offenses Against the Person Act of 1861. That law became part of Irish law when Ireland gained independence from the U.K. in 1922. In the early 1980s, some anti-abortion Catholic activists noticed the liberalization of abortion laws in other Western democracies and worried the same might happen in Ireland.

Continued: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2022-06-27/the-story-behind-irelands-abortion-ban-and-its-reversal

27.06.2022

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act

Abortion: the story of suffering and death behind Ireland’s ban and subsequent legalization

Published: May 16, 2022
Gretchen E. Ely

If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion in the U.S., the nation may find itself on a path similar to that trod by the Irish people from 1983 to 2018. A draft decision signed by the majority of conservative justices was leaked in May 2022, and indicates the court may do just that.

Continued: https://theconversation.com/abortion-the-story-of-suffering-and-death-behind-irelands-ban-and-subsequent-legalization-182812

Ireland – Abortion data shows progress made in abortion care but way to go to universal access

Press release, Abortion Rights Campaign
June 30, 2020

“The release of Ireland’s first abortion figures demonstrates a reality we have long known to be true: Irish people get abortions. They always have, they always will. Now, for the first time in the country’s history, free, safe, legal abortion is possible; the repeal of the 8th has brought an end to forced travel overseas or importing pills illegally for many in Ireland,” said Cathie Shiels, Co-convener of the Abortion Rights Campaign.

These figures, which showed that 6,666 people had an abortion in Ireland in 2019, are not comparable to statistics used in the past. Previously, we have relied on UK data which we always knew to be an undercount that failed to capture Irish residents who gave UK addresses, travelled to other destinations overseas or imported pills illegally.

Continued: https://www.abortionrightscampaign.ie/2020/06/30/press-release-abortion-data-shows-progress-made-in-abortion-care-but-way-to-go-to-universal-access/

30.06.2020

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12-week limit

Abortion Rights Campaign

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Cathie Shiels

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act

restrictive abortion laws

FEATURE: Brilliant Letter to Irish Minister of Health Simon Harris

from the Abortion Support Network, London
19 December 2018

**********************************
6 December 2018

Dear Mr Simon Harris

You and I don’t know each other, although I follow you on Twitter. We share a common area of interest, or, if not interest, a common duty to protect.

I am not a health official or a medical professional. I am the founder of Abortion Support Network (www.asn.org.uk), the England-based charity that provides information on the least expensive methods of abortion and travel and money towards the E500 to E3000 it can cost to travel and pay privately for the procedure. We are a small organisation, without an office or a land line, and since we started in 2009 we have helped almost 5,000 people. The majority have been resident in the Republic of Ireland.

Continued: https://mailchi.mp/safeabortionwomensright/feature-brilliant-letter-to-irish-minister-of-health-simon-harris-from-the-abortion-support-network-london-19-december-2018?e=372dd34034

Ireland – Ronan Mullen pledges to ‘fight the good fight’ in Seanad abortion debate

Ronan Mullen pledges to 'fight the good fight' in Seanad abortion debate

Friday, December 07, 2018
By Daniel McConnell

Health Minister Simon Harris is set to reject amendments to his controversial abortion legislation when it is debated in the Seanad on Monday.

Concerns have been expressed by senators on both sides of the debate with pro-life opponents to the bill criticising attempts to rush the legislation through, while pro-choice senators have expressed concern over elements of the bill as currently drafted.

Continued: https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/ronan-mullen-pledges-to-fight-the-good-fight-in-seanad-abortion-debate-890661.html

Ireland – Doctors call for legislation to protect conscientious objectors in abortion services

Doctors call for legislation to protect conscientious objectors in abortion services
Nurses and midwives hope ‘current protections will apply in the future’

Fri, Oct 5, 2018
Patsy McGarry

The Department of Health is to meet medical colleges including the Irish College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Physicians, and the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to discuss clinical protocols to deliver an abortion service, a spokeswoman for the Irish Medical Organisation has said. It is the largest medical representative body and trade union in Ireland.

It was “important that medical professionals can, on a conscientious basis, choose not to deliver this service,” she said.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/doctors-call-for-legislation-to-protect-conscientous-objectors-in-abortion-services-1.3653149

Ireland – No abortion legislation until court challenges concluded

No abortion legislation until court challenges concluded
Three court cases have delayed introduction of law to regulate pregnancy termination

Sun, Aug 12, 2018
Sarah Bardon Political Reporter

The Government will not introduce any legislation to implement the outcome of the referendum on the Eighth Amendment until court challenges to the result have concluded.

Reports emerged this weekend that Minister for Health Simon Harris was considering introducing an interim law to assist women who have received a diagnosis of a fatal foetal abnormality and to decriminalise women who procure an abortion.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/no-abortion-legislation-until-court-challenges-concluded-1.3594020

Ireland – Government to consider funding abortion services

Government to consider funding abortion services
Minister for Health to seek Cabinet approval to publish abortion legislation

Tue, Jul 10, 2018
Sarah Bardon Political Reporter

Minister for Health Simon Harris is to ask the Cabinet to allow for State funding of the cost of care for women seeking a termination of their pregnancy, as part of providing abortion services.

The Minister will bring the heads of the Health (Regulation of the Termination of Pregnancy) Bill to this morning’s Cabinet meeting, which will legalise access to abortions in certain circumstances.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/government-to-consider-funding-abortion-services-1.3559357

10.07.2018

Maternity and Infant Scheme

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act

Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill

Ireland – No abortion legislation until all court challenges have ended

No abortion legislation until all court challenges have ended
Minister for Health plans to publish legislation in early July regardless of court actions

June 14, 2018
Sarah Bardon

The Government cannot introduce legislation to allow for abortion services until all court challenges to the result of the referendum on the Eighth Amendment are concluded, The Irish Times has learned.

The referendum, which paved the way for liberalising the State’s strict abortion laws, was passed by a near two-to-one majority last month, but there have been a number of court challenges to the result.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/no-abortion-legislation-until-all-court-challenges-have-ended-1.3529605