Irish government leaders back abortion waiting period repeal, but dissent brews among TDs

The Irish government's leaders are backing Sinn Féin's bill to remove the mandatory three-day waiting period for abortions within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. However, dissent is emerging within the ruling coalition's ranks, with several TDs signaling their intention to vote against the proposal.

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The Taoiseach was using his position to try to influence TDs to vote the same way as him. He called Micheál Martin an “influencer”.

This opposition, particularly from older male deputies, mirrors past debates and divisions surrounding abortion legislation in Ireland. The article highlights the "Coveney Pause Clause," a three-day "cooling-off" period, which was controversially inserted into the abortion bill before the 2018 referendum. This addition appeased then-Tánaiste Simon Coveney, who had expressed doubts, allowing him to vote in favor of the referendum.

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This contentious three-day cooling-off period was added to draft legislation shortly before the 2018 abortion referendum because the then tánaiste, Simon Coveney, was having doubts about supporting it.

Despite the public's overwhelming vote to legalize abortion services, concerns about the mandatory waiting period have persisted. An independent review later confirmed these reservations. The current attempt to remove the clause, while supported by government leadership, faces internal resistance, suggesting that the contentious issue of abortion access continues to be a divisive topic within Irish politics, with a notable number of male voices opposing the bill.

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And for this creaky aul’ observer of the original Repeal the Eighth upheavals, there was a dispiriting familiarity to the slowly dropping parade of TDs coming out to say they would vote against allowing women make their own choice about when to access abortion services within that 12-week limit.