The Dáil Just Voted To Scrap The 3 Day Abortion Wait Time
The Dáil Just Voted To Scrap The 3 Day Abortion Wait Time
Text: Izzy Copestake
Most Government TDs voted against the bill.
The Dáil has just voted in favour of Sinn Féin’s bill which would remove the mandatory three day waiting period to access abortion services. This bill was approved by a vote of 86 to 70, and will now go before an Oireachtas committee for scrutiny.
Government TDs had the freedom to vote as they wished, as a matter of conscience. However, most Fianna Fáil TDs voted against the bill. The cabinet members who voted against the bill were: Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary, Minister for Housing James Browne, Minister for Children Norma Foley and Government Chief Whip Mary Butler voted against the bill.
In total, just 12 Fianna Fáil TDs voted for the bill, 30 voted against, and 6 were absent. Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers voted for the proposal.
In Fine Gael, the most TDs voted against the bill, with just 11 voting for the bill, 23 against, and 4 abstaining. Tanaiste Simon Harris and Ms Carroll MacNeill were the only Cabinet members to support the bill, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke were among those to vote against, and Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee, Minister for Communications Patrick O’Donovan were among the absentees.
It is understood that Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is set to discuss the bill with Attorney General Rossa Fanning, with the legislation expected to become law by the end of the year.
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