Women cannot wait any longer for abortion care reform
Women cannot wait any longer for abortion care reform - The Labour Party
- Government must implement abortion review recommendations now
Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD has called on Government to urgently implement all recommendations of the O’Shea Review into abortion services and set out a clear timeline for reforming Ireland’s abortion laws. Speaking during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil today, Deputy Bacik said that while the Taoiseach’s support for removing the mandatory three-day waiting period was welcome, much broader reform is needed to ensure women can access healthcare in Ireland without unnecessary obstacles or having to travel abroad.
Deputy Bacik said:
“Women across Ireland are still being failed by a healthcare system that continues to place unnecessary barriers between them and the care they need. Despite the historic repeal of the Eighth Amendment in 2018, at least 1,500 women have travelled abroad for abortion care since then. For those women, the promise of accessible reproductive healthcare has not yet been fulfilled.
“This Government has known for three years that serious problems remain within our abortion care system. The O’Shea Review, commissioned by Government and published in 2023, clearly identified barriers that are preventing women from accessing timely healthcare and creating uncertainty for medical professionals. Yet many of its recommendations remain unimplemented.
“In the Dáil today in response to me, the Taoiseach confirmed again that he will support the Private Members’ Bill to remove the mandatory three-day waiting period. That support is welcome. The three-day wait is an unnecessary and paternalistic barrier that reflects an outdated mistrust of women and has no clinical justification. However, removing that barrier alone will not be enough.
“The Taoiseach’s response today to me was otherwise deeply disappointing because he did not adequately address the central issue of further urgent reform. Women facing devastating diagnoses of fatal foetal abnormality are still being forced to travel abroad due to unnecessarily restrictive provisions in our legislation. Doctors continue to operate under a legal framework that requires reform and clarification. These are issues that Government has been aware of for years.
“Labour is calling for the full implementation of all recommendations contained in the O’Shea Review, including the removal of the mandatory three-day waiting period, reform of the restrictive provisions relating to fatal foetal abnormality, and decriminalisation of medical practitioners providing abortion care. Women deserve access to healthcare based on medical need, dignity and respect. Government must act now.”