Ireland’s lower house of parliament, the Dáil, has voted in favour of legislation to remove the mandatory three-day waiting period for abortions. The Sinn Féin-backed bill passed by 86 votes to 70 and will now move to the health committee for further examination.

Under current law, women seeking an abortion up to 12 weeks into pregnancy must wait three days between an initial GP consultation and the procedure. Supporters of the bill argue that the waiting period creates an unnecessary barrier to healthcare, while opponents say it provides important time for consideration.

The vote revealed differing views across political parties, with several government members voting against the proposal despite senior leaders supporting it. Advocates have welcomed the move as a significant step in expanding reproductive healthcare, while campaigners continue to push for additional reforms recommended in previous reviews of Ireland’s abortion laws.

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