Dáil to vote on SF abortion bill to remove three-day wait

The Dáil will vote on Sinn Féin's proposed legislation to remove the three-day wait period for an abortion in early pregnancy.

If the bill is passed in the Dáil tonight, it will then go before an Oireachtas committee for further scrutiny.

Sinn Féin announced at the weekend that Spokesperson on Health David Cullinane would bring forward the proposed legislation in the Dáil this week to remove it.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill have indicated that they will vote in favour of the proposed Sinn Féin legislation.

Government TDs will have a free vote on the issue.

Speaking in the chamber yesterday, Minister of State Emer Higgins said that if the bill is adopted "practical and operational challenges" which are not "insurmountable" would have to be addressed.

Deputy Cullinane told the Dáil that he is open to working across parties to accommodate technical amendments which might be needed at the committee stage of the bill.

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín yesterday criticised Sinn Féin for pursuing the change to legislation.

He said there had been a surge in abortions since 2018 and there was "no effort by the political establishment" to understand either why, or to consider the human cost.

Deputy Tóibín told the Dáil that last year there were 10,852 abortions in Ireland, compared to 2,879 in 2018, which he said is a threefold increase.