Irish parliament votes to remove three-day abortion wait
Source: the guardian
Waiting period before receiving medication was included in draft law to gain support for abortion ban in 2018 referendum
Rory Carroll Ireland correspondent Thu 18 Jun 2026 07.11 EDT
Ireland’s parliament has voted to remove a mandatory three-day wait for abortion during early pregnancy after campaigners said the rule was an unnecessary restriction.
The Dáil passed the bill on Wednesday night, clearing a path for the legislation to go to a parliamentary committee and become law later this, or next, year.
Supporters said it was one of the most significant changes to women’s healthcare since voters ended a constitutional ban on abortion in a 2018 referendum. Opponents said it overturned a safeguard endorsed in the referendum.
Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of Sinn Féin, which sponsored the bill, said: “Women, healthcare providers and campaigners have long called for this unnecessary barrier to be removed.”..............................
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/18/irish-parliament-votes-to-remove-three-day-abortion-wait