Legislation providing for the complete decriminalisation of abortion and the abolition of the mandatory three-day waiting period is scheduled for a preliminary vote in the Dáil tonight.

The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) (Amendment) Bill 2023, had been proposed by former People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith, during the last Dail, but lapsed at the end of the session.

It is now being reintroduced by Paul Murphy TD.

As well as decriminalising abortion and ending the 3-day waiting period, the bill would also provide for abortion on demand prior to foetal viability, which is around 22 weeks; and expand the time period for abortion for so-called ‘fatal foetal abnormality’ to where a medical condition is likely to lead to the death of the child within a year of birth.

The Pro Life Campaign is asking its supporters to lobby politicians to oppose the bill, saying it “would allow abortion on request through the entire nine months of pregnancy”, and would “certainly lead to a big increase to the already massive numbers of babies lost and women hurt by abortion”.