Is abortion legal in Northern Ireland and Ireland – what does the law say?
THE laws on abortion and same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland are poised to change on October 22. Here is everything you need to know about the abortion laws in Ireland and Northern Ireland. When was the abortion referendum in Ireland? Previously, thousands of women from Ireland had been forced to seek terminations in Britain because […]
THE laws on abortion and same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland are poised to change on October 22.
Here is everything you need to know about the abortion laws in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
When was the abortion referendum in Ireland?
Previously, thousands of women from Ireland had been forced to seek terminations in Britain because they were prohibited from obtaining them in Ireland unless their lives were in danger.
The polls officially opened on May 25, with many Irish citizens around the world flying home to cast their votes.
Around 2,000 residents on islands off Counties Donegal, Mayo and Galway went to the polls on May 24, a day ahead of the rest of the country.
The Irish electorate voted by 1,429,981 votes to 723,632 in favour of abolishing the controversial eighth amendment to the constitution.
The Government now intends to allow terminations within the first 12 weeks in the event.
Counting began on the morning of Saturday May 26.
The result was a two-thirds majority: 66.4 per cent yes to 33 per cent no.
What were the opinion polls predicting?
Opinion polls showed a strong lead for Yes soon after the referendum was announced earlier this year.
But leading up to the vote, they narrowed and No campaigners declared themselves confident of pulling off a surprise win.
Experts predicted the large proportion of undecided voters could swing the result, as well as how successful each campaign was at getting “soft supporters” out to vote.
Younger people and city dwellers were more likely to favour reform than older folk in the country, polls showed.
Is abortion currently legal in Ireland?
Yes – a bill to legalise abortion passed all stages in the Irish Senate – Seanad.
The Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2018 was passed 27 votes to five.
It will now be given to President Michael D Higgins to be signed into law.
The change in law will now allow for abortion services to be provided up to 12 weeks, where there is a risk of fatal foetal abnormality and the risk to life or health of the pregnant woman.
This compared to 24 weeks in the UK.
Abortion was previously only available in Ireland when there was a proven risk to the woman’s life, including through suicide.
Prior to the referendum, pregnant women travelled to Britain or had an illegal termination with pills bought online.
In a series of votes in April, the citizens’ assembly, set up to consider the issue, recommended that abortion should be available up to 12 weeks after conception “with no restriction as to reason”.
The vote for change was overwhelming, by 52 to 29.
On Friday, May 25, Ireland held a referendum on whether to repeal its ban on abortion in almost all circumstances.
A cabinet meeting is set to take place on how the question at the heart of the referendum should be phrased.
Last year the UN stated that Ireland’s laws on abortion were “cruel and inhuman”.
What has the Taoiseach said?
Voting Yes to liberalising Ireland’s strict abortion rules would help remove the country’s “legacy of shame” over its treatment of women, the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said before the vote.
He added: “If there is a Yes vote Ireland will be the same place.
“Just a place that’s a little bit more compassionate and a little bit more understanding than it has been in the past.”
He added: “We’re really encouraging everyone to come out and vote on Friday in what is a once-in-a-generation decision for the Irish people.”
Is the law different in Northern Ireland?
Abortion, along with same-sex marriage, will be legal in Northern Ireland for the first time from October 22.
The change came about as a result of backbench MPs tabling amendments to Commons bills connected with the governance of Northern Ireland.
Labour’s Conor McGinn MP proposed that Westminster legislate for same-sex marriage.
His party colleague, Stella Creasy MP, then proposed the decriminalisation of abortion, and both amendments were carried by significant majorities.
The moves meant that both same-sex marriage and abortion would become legal unless the Northern Ireland Assembly had been restored by midnight on October 21.
That didn’t happen as the Stormont assembly was told it could not do any business until a speaker was elected that had cross-community backing.
Hopes of that happening were dashed when the nationalist SDLP walked out of the chamber.
Why was it different from the rest of the UK?
The 1967 Abortion Act, which established legal abortion, has never applied in Northern Ireland.
In England, Scotland and Wales an abortion can be legally carried out up to the 24-week limit.
It can be legal beyond that limit in cases where the mother’s health is threatened or if there is a substantial risk the baby will have serious disabilities.
A 2008 move to extend the 1967 act to Northern Ireland was blocked by Harriet Harman, then Leader of the Commons.
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