A Fianna Fáil Minister of State who called for a No vote in the 2018 abortion referendum now wants the current radical law liberalised even further.

Unlike other pro-life voices at the time, Anne Rabbitte did not believe in a prohibition on abortion, or retaining protection for the right to life exactly as it was enshrined in the constitution. However, she did think the proposal before the country was too permissive. Now she says she was out of touch with her electorate.

“People have amazed me. Women that I would meet in my own area, that would be in their 80s would turn to me and say: ‘Yes, I voted yes because I remember the marriage bar, and I remember the mother and baby homes, and I know what happened and yes, I think it’s right that women would have their own say.’”, she told the Examiner.

While Ms Rabbitte wouldn’t comment on the current review of abortion legislation, she said: “Where couples are given news that perhaps the baby won’t survive, and it’s clinically the opinion of the gynecologist, we have to leave the choice of their healthcare to the couples themselves. I do think it’s wrong that they have to leave the State.”

Legislation allows abortion up to nine months where a doctor deems the unborn child would likely die within 28 days of birth. Some campaigners want this restriction on disability abortions abolished meaning children who could survive for months, or even years after birth, could be aborted.

In the 2020 General Election every TD who voted against abortion legislation at the end of 2018 returned to office.