After the defeat of their extreme abortion proposal just before Christmas that would have allowed abortion on request up-to-birth, Ruth Coppinger and Paul Murphy barely paused for a breath before returning with another bill, this time focused on removing the life-saving three-day wait before an abortion takes place.
The abortion law requires that a period of three days must elapse between the date on which a doctor certifies that the woman is pregnant and the abortion procedure itself. It gives time to pause and consider prior to proceeding with an irreversible life-ending and life-changing decision. It is a window that many women are grateful was there for them at a vulnerable time after the news of an unplanned pregnancy. Abortion is sold as a safe and simple quick fix for an unexpected pregnancy – but the reality is that many women live with long-term regret and mental health struggles after abortion.
Members of the Oireachtas would be better served by focusing on policies aimed at reducing the number of abortions, rather than facilitating an all-but-certain increase”
It’s sad to see members of the Dáil devoting so much effort to widening access to abortion, while abortion numbers continue to soar – reaching 10,852 in 2024 – the most recent year for which Irish abortion figures are available. Members of the Oireachtas would be better served by focusing on policies aimed at reducing the number of abortions, rather than facilitating an all-but-certain increase.
Weary
The good news is that a significant number of TDs – not only those who are reliably pro-life – are growing weary of the push towards more abortions, and are likely to stop the latest bill from progressing into law. The writer has spoken to Oireachtas Members of every political hue who feel the same. That said, the closeness of the vote on abortion before Christmas makes it clear that we can leave nothing to chance.
In a bid to shore up support for her latest bill, Coppinger reminded the Dáil that the Chair of the Three-Year Review of the abortion law recommended removing the three-day wait before an abortion. What she did not mention was that the Chair of the Review, Marie O’Shea, admitted at an Oireachtas Health Committee meeting that before making her recommendation, she never spoke to any of the thousands of women who went for their first abortion appointment but didn’t return for the second appointment three days later to proceed with the abortion. It stands as a breathtaking admission from O’Shea and entirely undercuts the case for removing the three-day waiting period.
The very latest figures released by the HSE in reply to a Parliamentary Question from Carol Nolan TD show that in 2022 and 2023, 3,933 women who went for a first abortion appointment didn’t return for a second consultation with the abortion providing doctor, after the three-day wait had elapsed. Between 2019 and 2024, a total of 10,426 women did not return after the three-day waiting period – over one in six women. It’s a significant number, proving the life-saving value of the three-day reflection period and why it should be retained.
While there can be other reasons why some women don’t return for the second appointment, for example, a miscarriage or a false positive pregnancy test, it’s clear that thousands of children, from babies up to six-year-olds, are alive in Ireland today because of the three-day wait provision.
Because it is such a grave decision, I think most reasonable people see the value in a few days of reflection”
Columnist Sarah Carey, writing in the Irish Independent, strongly took issue with Coppinger’s latest bill. Reminding readers that while she voted for repeal in 2018 and still describes herself as “pro-choice”, she believes the proposal to remove the 72-hour waiting period is a step too far, noting that: “Because it is such a grave decision, I think most reasonable people see the value in a few days of reflection.” In fairness to Carey, it’s clear that she has closely examined the figures and noted the indisputable fact that so many women go for their first appointment and then change their mind.
Far-right
Ruth Coppinger and her colleagues will likely continue to hurl insults and brand opponents of her bill as “far-right,” as she did in the Dáil when introducing it. Such attacks, however unfair or gratuitous, will not deter us. If any position is extreme, it is the one that relentlessly promotes abortion and seeks to dismantle even the most limited protections that remain for unborn human life.
It is a fact that thousands of children are missing from our classrooms due to the massive abortion numbers in Ireland. Pushing to remove one of the last safeguards that could save some babies’ lives is a push too far. In the coming weeks and months, we need to communicate this message confidently and clearly to members of the Oireachtas and the public at large.
Eilís Mulroy is Campaign Manager of the Pro Life Campaign.
Ending the three-day wait: The latest extreme abortion proposal
After the defeat of their extreme abortion proposal just before Christmas that would have allowed abortion on request up-to-birth, Ruth Coppinger and Paul Murphy barely paused for a breath before returning with another bill, this time focused on removing the life-saving three-day wait before an abortion takes place.
The abortion law requires that a period of three days must elapse between the date on which a doctor certifies that the woman is pregnant and the abortion procedure itself. It gives time to pause and consider prior to proceeding with an irreversible life-ending and life-changing decision. It is a window that many women are grateful was there for them at a vulnerable time after the news of an unplanned pregnancy. Abortion is sold as a safe and simple quick fix for an unexpected pregnancy – but the reality is that many women live with long-term regret and mental health struggles after abortion.
It’s sad to see members of the Dáil devoting so much effort to widening access to abortion, while abortion numbers continue to soar – reaching 10,852 in 2024 – the most recent year for which Irish abortion figures are available. Members of the Oireachtas would be better served by focusing on policies aimed at reducing the number of abortions, rather than facilitating an all-but-certain increase.
Weary
The good news is that a significant number of TDs – not only those who are reliably pro-life – are growing weary of the push towards more abortions, and are likely to stop the latest bill from progressing into law. The writer has spoken to Oireachtas Members of every political hue who feel the same. That said, the closeness of the vote on abortion before Christmas makes it clear that we can leave nothing to chance.
In a bid to shore up support for her latest bill, Coppinger reminded the Dáil that the Chair of the Three-Year Review of the abortion law recommended removing the three-day wait before an abortion. What she did not mention was that the Chair of the Review, Marie O’Shea, admitted at an Oireachtas Health Committee meeting that before making her recommendation, she never spoke to any of the thousands of women who went for their first abortion appointment but didn’t return for the second appointment three days later to proceed with the abortion. It stands as a breathtaking admission from O’Shea and entirely undercuts the case for removing the three-day waiting period.
The very latest figures released by the HSE in reply to a Parliamentary Question from Carol Nolan TD show that in 2022 and 2023, 3,933 women who went for a first abortion appointment didn’t return for a second consultation with the abortion providing doctor, after the three-day wait had elapsed. Between 2019 and 2024, a total of 10,426 women did not return after the three-day waiting period – over one in six women. It’s a significant number, proving the life-saving value of the three-day reflection period and why it should be retained.
While there can be other reasons why some women don’t return for the second appointment, for example, a miscarriage or a false positive pregnancy test, it’s clear that thousands of children, from babies up to six-year-olds, are alive in Ireland today because of the three-day wait provision.
Columnist Sarah Carey, writing in the Irish Independent, strongly took issue with Coppinger’s latest bill. Reminding readers that while she voted for repeal in 2018 and still describes herself as “pro-choice”, she believes the proposal to remove the 72-hour waiting period is a step too far, noting that: “Because it is such a grave decision, I think most reasonable people see the value in a few days of reflection.” In fairness to Carey, it’s clear that she has closely examined the figures and noted the indisputable fact that so many women go for their first appointment and then change their mind.
Far-right
Ruth Coppinger and her colleagues will likely continue to hurl insults and brand opponents of her bill as “far-right,” as she did in the Dáil when introducing it. Such attacks, however unfair or gratuitous, will not deter us. If any position is extreme, it is the one that relentlessly promotes abortion and seeks to dismantle even the most limited protections that remain for unborn human life.
It is a fact that thousands of children are missing from our classrooms due to the massive abortion numbers in Ireland. Pushing to remove one of the last safeguards that could save some babies’ lives is a push too far. In the coming weeks and months, we need to communicate this message confidently and clearly to members of the Oireachtas and the public at large.
Eilís Mulroy is Campaign Manager of the Pro Life Campaign.
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