Ireland – Minister defends decision not to distinguish between miscarriage and abortion in new leave law

Peter Burke says women should not be asked the reason for their pregnancy loss

Vivienne Clarke
Wed Jul 15 2026

Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke has defended the decision not to distinguish between a pregnancy termination and a miscarriage under a new law that will grant five days’ sick leave for early pregnancy loss.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet approved the general scheme of the legislation, which will give women who have experienced pregnancy loss an entitlement to five days of leave once the loss has been certified by their doctor, including in cases where the pregnancy ended in an abortion.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2026/07/15/minister-defends-decision-not-to-distinguish-between-miscarriage-and-abortion-in-new-leave-law/

15.07.2026

News

fatal foetal abnormality

Oireachtas Caucus for Women

paid leave for pregnancy loss

Over 46,000 abortions carried out in Ireland in six years

A new 50-page report by the HSE examines the expansion of services and the number of terminations carried out by recognised providers in Ireland.

3 Jul 2026

OVER SEVEN YEARS after the termination of pregnancy up to 12 weeks was legalised following a constitutional referendum, the HSE has published its first report into the termination of pregnancy services in Ireland.

The 50-page report examines the expansion of services and the number of terminations carried out by recognised providers in Ireland between the years 2019 and 2024.

Continued: https://www.thejournal.ie/abortion-ireland-7-7090492-Jul2026/

04.07.2026

Health Service Executive

HSE

HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme

Ireland – Almost two-thirds of women who had hospital abortion were previously pregnant, analysis shows

Almost two-thirds of women who had hospital abortion were previously pregnant, analysis shows
Report states provision of abortion has evolved and is now largely viewed as a routine and normal part of healthcare

Shauna Bowers
Fri Jul 03 2026

Almost two thirds of women who had a hospital-based abortion over an eight-month period had a previous pregnancy, new analysis shows.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) on Friday published a report on the first six years of Termination of Pregnancy Services in Ireland. It included, for the first time, a profile of women who have availed of the service.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/health/2026/07/03/almost-two-thirds-of-women-who-had-hospital-abortion-were-previously-pregnancy-analysis-shows/

04.07.2026

Health Service Executive

hospital-based abortion

HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme

National Women and Infants Health Programme

Eight Years After Repeal, Irish Women Are Still Waiting for Change

Lily van den Bergh
June 29, 2026

The recent passage of Sinn Féin’s bill abolishing Ireland’s mandatory three-day abortion waiting period has been celebrated as a significant step forward for reproductive rights. However, its success also brings to light the uncomfortable truth that while Ireland may present itself as a modern nation, its treatment of women’s reproductive rights remains rooted in its legacy of conservatism. Only weeks earlier, the Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill, championed by Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns, was defeated in the Dáil despite proposing far broader reforms to Ireland’s abortion legislation. While Sinn Féin’s bill addresses the patronising three-day waiting period, the Social Democrats’ proposal sought to build upon legislation introduced during the Repeal The Eighth movement in 2018 by also addressing the criminalisation of healthcare professionals and other barriers to abortion access. Though the removal of the waiting period should be welcomed, we must ask ourselves why, eight years after one of the largest feminist movements in Irish history, women’s political priorities are still struggling to translate into legislative change.

Continued: https://universitytimes.ie/2026/06/eight-years-after-repeal-irish-women-are-still-waiting-for-change/

IRELAND – Women who miscarry or have abortion will get paid leave under new plan being considered by coalition

Government moves to introduce new law after Northern Ireland and Malta brought in similar measures

Cónal Thomas
28 Jun 2026

Paid leave will be offered for the first time for women who suffer a miscarriage before 23 weeks of pregnancy, under plans being considered by the Government.

Enterprise Minister Peter Burke is examining legislative changes that will introduce five days’ paid leave for pregnancy loss before 23 weeks, in a move aimed at helping thousands of women each year.

Continued: https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/sunday-independent-ireland/20260628/281492168041704

28.06.2026

News

paid leave for abortion

paid leave for pregnancy loss

Ireland – Dail abortion vote that caused controversy is still not a law

June 27, 2026
By Sean Murphy

A CONTROVERSIAL abortion vote was passed in the Dail – but this does not mean that it has become law.

An amendment was proposed by Sinn Fein to the abortion legislation that was agreed by the country in a referendum eight years ago.

It passed a vote in Dail Eireann on June 17, prompting discussion about when it could become law, but it still has several stages to go, Oireachtas procedures have clarified.

Continued: https://donegalnews.com/dail-abortion-vote-that-caused-controversy-is-still-not-a-law/

27.06.2026

News

3-day waiting requirement

Mary Lou McDonald

Mary T Sweeny

Sinn Fein

three-day waiting period

Go-slow or proper scrutiny? The divide over Bill scrapping three-day wait for abortion

Lack of a whip on the issue means an exercise in vote-hunting the Oireachtas rarely sees

Jack Horgan-Jones
Sat Jun 27 2026

There is, in the words of one TD on the Oireachtas health committee, a “clear division” among members about whether to subject Sinn Féin’s Bill scrapping the three-day waiting period for abortion services to further scrutiny.

Oireachtas committees scrutinise Bills all the time – although the process is, on occasion, waived when there’s a push on to get a new law on to the statute books.

Continued: https://archive.is/on309
(https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2026/06/27/go-slow-or-proper-scrutiny-the-divide-over-bill-scrapping-three-day-wait-for-abortion/)

27.06.2026

Commentary

3-day waiting requirement

Marie O’Shea

Sinn Féin

three-day waiting period

Ireland – TDs seek extra scrutiny of Bill removing three-day wait for abortion over fear of backlash

Some Government TDs argue at Oireachtas health committee that pushing Bill through rapidly could cause divisions

Jack Horgan-Jones
Thu Jun 25 2026

Government TDs are seeking extra scrutiny of legislation removing the three-day waiting period for abortion services due to fears of a potential backlash from voters over it being “railroaded” through the Dáil.

Many Coalition TDs, including senior Ministers, voted against the Sinn Féin Bill in the Dáil earlier this month, but it passed with the support of Opposition TDs and Government members including Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2026/06/25/tds-seek-extra-scrutiny-of-bill-removing-three-day-wait-for-abortion-over-fear-of-backlash/

25.06.2026

News

3-day waiting requirement

David Cullinane

Fianna Fáil

Fine Gael

three-day waiting period

Ireland – The three-day wait to access an abortion will be removed – but what did a review of abortion laws also recommend?

Maeve McTaggart
20 Jun 2026

The removal of the three-day wait for a woman seeking a termination of pregnancy would be the most significant change to Ireland’s abortion laws since 2018.

It was one of the recommendations made by an independent review of the legislation and how it was working, but what else did barrister Marie O’Shea advise – and are the recommendations being progressed?

The Department of Health commissioned the review into the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, which was published in 2023.

Continued: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/the-three-day-wait-to-access-an-abortion-will-be-removed-but-what-did-a-review-of-abortion-laws-also-recommend/a/157427496.html

Ireland – Government leaders at odds with TDs on sensitive abortion issue

Friday, 19 Jun 2026
By Barry Lenihan

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have found themselves at odds with the majority of their TDs on the politically sensitive issue of abortion. Government TDs were given a free vote - or a "vote of conscience" - in a Sinn Féin bill to remove the mandatory three-day wait for abortion services in early pregnancy.

…Given what's involved, there might be a reluctance to make last night's vote overly party political. But still, it gives an insight into some of the dynamics developing on the Government and opposition benches.

Continued: https://www.rte.ie/news/analysis-and-comment/2026/0618/1579064-abortion-vote-analysis/