Sinn Féin to move bill to remove mandatory three-day wait for abortion

Sinn Féin is set to introduce legislation aimed at removing the mandatory three-day waiting period for abortions in Ireland. Party leader Mary Lou McDonald announced the move, stating that the waiting period has had "serious consequences" and should never have been implemented.

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It is time for the law to change, and this would be a significant move towards compassion and ensuring barriers to women accessing healthcare are removed.

The bill will be presented in the Dáil next week, with a vote scheduled for the following night. McDonald emphasized that changing the law would be a "significant move towards compassion" and would help remove barriers for women accessing healthcare.

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Since the passing of abortion legislation following the repeal referendum, there have been concerns expressed at the mandatory three-day wait and the negative implications that it has had for women.

Sinn Féin asserts that there is broad societal support for eliminating the waiting period and anticipates the legislation's passage. This comes after a similar bill proposed by the Social Democrats was defeated in the Dáil last month. That bill sought not only to end the waiting period but also to remove criminal sanctions and revise criteria for terminations due to fatal fetal abnormalities. Government TDs had been granted a free vote on the Social Democrats' proposal.

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We believe that there is widespread support across society for removing the mandatory three-day wait and that the legislation will be passed.