Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the three-day wait should never have been introduced

TDs to get free vote on bill to remove abortion wait time

by · RTE.ie

Government TDs are to have a free vote on Sinn Féin legislation to remove the mandatory three-day wait period for abortion in early pregnancy.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said the three-day wait should never have been introduced and has had serious consequences.

A Government spokesperson confirmed the move ahead of a Dáil debate on the motion tomorrow and a vote on Wednesday.

The bill comes after Social Democrats proposals to remove both the three-day wait and criminal sanctions found in the current law, as well as to introduce revised criteria for a termination on the grounds of fatal foetal abnormality were defeated in the Dáil last month.

Government TDs had a free vote on that vote too, with Fine Gael's Grace Boland and Barry Ward and Fianna Fáil's Catherine Ardagh voting in favour of the bill.

Government supporting Independent TD Barry Heneghan also backed the bill.

Fianna Fáil's Minister for Higher Education, James Lawless, as well as his party colleagues Christopher O'Sullivan and Paul McAuliffe, abstained.

"We believe that there is widespread support across society for removing the mandatory three-day wait and that the legislation will be passed", said Ms McDonald ahead of the vote.

The Social Democrats, the Labour Party, People Before Profit and the Green Party are expected to vote in favour of the legislation.

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger introduced legislation to abolish the three-day wait for abortion in January.

The bill replaced similar proposals brought forward in the 33rd Dáil by then People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Bríd Smith, which fell upon the dissolution of the Dáil prior to the general election.

An attempt to have Ms Smith's bill restored on the Order Paper of this Dáil was defeated by 73 votes to 71, but several Government TDs and ministers voted to put the bill back on the Order Paper.

Separately, Irish Catholic Bishops have described as unfortunate efforts to widen the current law on abortion.

Marking the Catholic Church's annual Day for Life, due to take place next Sunday, the bishops questioned why there had been "no attempt" to find out why 90% of abortions take place in the first 12 weeks.