The Pro Life Campaign has called on members of the Oireachtas to vote against the Social Democrats abortion bill at Second Stage today, warning that the proposal would abolish the three-day waiting period before an abortion and expand access to late-term abortion in Ireland.
PLC spokesperson Eilís Mulroy said the proposal was “reckless and very poorly reasoned”, particularly in light of official HSE data showing that 10,426 women who attended an initial abortion appointment between 2019 and 2024 did not proceed with an abortion after the three-day waiting period – one in six of those who attended an initial consultation.
“The evidence clearly demonstrates the life-saving impact of the three-day wait. More than 10,000 women were given time and space to reflect during a difficult and emotional period, and ultimately chose not to go ahead with an abortion. Removing that safeguard would be deeply irresponsible,” she said.
The organisation also questioned whether Holly Cairns, leader of the Social Democrats, had engaged with women who regret their abortions or with women who say the three-day waiting period helped them continue their pregnancies.
“Holly Cairns recently spoke about the importance of listening to women’s abortion experiences. However, she has not clarified whether she has accepted or ignored requests to meet women who deeply regret their abortions, or whether she has taken time to hear from women who benefited from the three-day reflection period and ultimately chose to keep their babies. These are not unreasonable questions. They are basic and necessary questions that reflect what level of balance Ms Cairns brought to this issue before putting forward her bill,” Ms Mulroy commented.
The PLC said the Social Democrats have acknowledged basing their proposal on recommendations contained in the Three Year Review of Ireland’s abortion law. However, the group pointed to comments made by the Chairperson of the Review at an Oireachtas Health Committee meeting, where she acknowledged that before making her recommendation, she had not spoken to any of the thousands of women who used the three-day waiting period to change their minds.
“That admission completely undermines the argument for abolishing the three-day waiting period on the basis of the Review’s recommendations,” Ms Mulroy said.
The organisation also expressed concern about rising abortion numbers in Ireland.
“1 in 6 pregnancies now ends in abortion in Ireland. Given the scale of this increase, members of the Oireachtas should pause and carefully consider the consequences of supporting measures that would inevitably lead to even more abortions,” Ms Mulroy added.
The group further noted that Sinn Féin recently became the third Dáil party, after People Before Profit-Solidarity and the Social Democrats, to support legislation removing the three-day reflection period.
“What increasingly resembles an unseemly political bidding war for a small but vocal pro-choice vote ahead of upcoming by-elections must give way to reflection and respect for the evidence, which shows that the three-day wait saves lives,” Ms Mulroy said.
The PLC said it is encouraging supporters across the country to contact their local TDs ahead of today’s vote and urge them to oppose the bill.
“We are asking TDs from all parties and none to reject this irresponsible and dangerously shortsighted proposal,” Ms Mulroy concluded.