Ireland – Three-day abortion wait hits women in ‘straitened circumstances’ hardest, HSE says

HSE experts also told TDs there is ‘overwhelming evidence’ against mandatory waiting periods

Ellen Coyne
Wed Sept 23 2026

Women in “straitened circumstances” are more affected by a mandatory three-day wait for abortions than those who are better off financially, according to the HSE.

An Oireachtas committee considering a new law that would lift the mandatory 72-hour delay heard evidence on Wednesday that international studies have shown that such policies do not change abortion rates or birth rates, and that mandatory waits contribute to “financial, emotional” costs for women.

Continued: https://archive.is/RKJIO
(https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/oireachtas/2026/09/23/three-day-abortion-wait-hits-women-in-straitened-circumstances-hardest-hse-says/)

Ireland – Bill to remove three-day abortion wait likely to pass despite division in Government

The Bill has drawn an uncomfortable binary line between Government leaders and their respective backbenchers

Ellen Coyne
Thu Sept 17 2026

The basement of Leinster House is haunted by one of Ireland’s most exigent and enduring political issues. It was often in committee room two, under harsh yellow lights, that many politicians spent fractious hours debating what became the end of the Eighth Amendment eight years ago.

In the same room on Wednesday, many TDs who weren’t even in national politics for the 2018 referendum became the latest generation of Irish politicians to find themselves debating the issue of abortion.

Continued: https://archive.is/kbaby

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 – 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/

Ireland – My grandmother fought for reproductive rights over 50 years ago — why are we still fighting?

The three-day wait for an abortion in Ireland is medically unnecessary, patronising, and unjustified, writes Aisling McGee

Sun, 24 May, 2026
Aisling McGee

In my first week at university, I wrote that “laws are in a constant state of motion”. At the time, I believed Ireland was a utopian society; that our laws and legislation evolved alongside the people they governed.

Perhaps it was naivety, or even just hopeful optimism. After all, I grew up listening to stories about my grandmother May McGee and the battle she had to fight for her own autonomy.

Six years after I wrote those words, I no longer believe them.

Continued: https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41849346.html

Around 240 Irish women still travel to the UK every year for abortions

April 7, 2025

At least 5,860 European women crossed borders for abortions in 2023. This includes Ireland, even after the repeal of the Eighth Amendment in 2018.

The Journal Investigates latest report showed that women still come across bureaucratic hurdles that force them to travel. Its editor, Maria Delaney, said Irish women continue to travel to Britain for abortions.

Continued: https://www.newstalk.com/news/around-240-irish-women-still-travel-to-the-uk-every-year-for-abortions-2152245

07.04.2025

News

Eighth Amendment

Maria Delaney

travelling for abortion

travelling to England

Europe

Ireland

Over 5,000 women in Europe have to travel abroad for abortions each year

Legal, bureaucratic and social obstacles are still faced by women, even if they live in countries where abortion is legalised.

7 Apr 2025

THOUSANDS OF WOMEN have to travel to neighbouring countries in Europe to access abortion care due to barriers faced at home.

A cross-border investigation, Exporting Abortion, exposes this stark statistic for the first time, following an extensive examination of data and personal testimonies across Europe.

Our analysis found that more than 5,000 women travel from their home countries every year due to the difficulties they face in accessing abortion care. In 2023, that number was at least 5,860.

Continued: https://www.thejournal.ie/investigates-exporting-abortion-europe-6666436-Apr2025/

Trump’s abortion flip-flops: Lessons from Ireland on why reasons-based access to abortion doesn’t work

September 16, 2024
Seána Glennon, Postdoctoral Fellow, Constitutional Law, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

Donald Trump has flip-flopped on the issue of abortion for decades, from declaring himself “very pro-choice” in the 1990s and “pro-life” in 2011 to hinting this year that he’d support a national abortion ban.

Abortion is a topic of huge importance in American politics this year: it could decide the United States presidential election, and the way states regulate abortion access will have life-or-death consequences for women.

…American legislators should look to Ireland to understand the real-life consequences of a ban on abortion, the chilling effect on health-care professionals of an exception only in cases of a threat to the life of the pregnant woman, and the significant problems with attempting to legislate abortion access only for certain reasons, like rape and incest.

Continued: https://theconversation.com/trumps-abortion-flip-flops-lessons-from-ireland-on-why-reasons-based-access-to-abortion-doesnt-work-238934

16.09.2024

Ireland – Abortion numbers are in line with predictions

Letter of the Day
Mon Jul 15 2024
by Dr Peter Boylan, Former chair, Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists,

Sir, – Breda O’Brien’s claim that there has been an “astonishing rise” in abortion services accessed by women in the Republic of Ireland since the repeal of the Eighth Amendment is misplaced (“In Ireland, you can tell people abortion figures won’t rise and still be unaccountable when they double”, Opinion & Analysis, July 13th).

The statistic of 3,019 women from the Republic accessing abortion in England and Wales in 2017 refers only to the number of women who gave addresses in the Republic. Many others provided the UK addresses of family, friends or supporters. This practice was well-identified over many years when abortion was illegal here. Similarly, the number of women who used abortion pills prior to repeal cannot be accurately determined.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/2024/07/15/abortion-numbers-are-in-line-with-predictions/

15.07.2024

Ireland – Lack of action on State’s abortion law shows ‘political cowardice’

MON, 15 JAN, 2024
CIARA PHELAN, SENIOR CORRESPONDENT

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said it will be “cruel” and “political cowardice” if the Government decides against removing a three-day waiting period to access abortion services.

Ms Cairns has called on Government to deal with the recommendations from the final review into the State’s abortion law, authored by barrister Marie O’Shea, which recommends significant changes.

Continued: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-41309473.html

15.01.2024