Commenting on this evening’s news that the Taoiseach and Tánaiste are to vote in favour of the Sinn Féin bill to abolish the three-day wait before an abortion, Eilís Mulroy of the Pro Life Campaign said: “Many people who voted Yes in the 2018 referendum did so following assurances from people like Micheál Martin and Simon Harris that the three-day wait would be an integral part of any new law. Their decision today to renege on that assurance – particularly so soon after the referendum – represents a massive breach of trust with voters.
“Both men know that close to 11,000 abortions take place in Ireland every year and that over 60,000 abortions have happened since the law changed in 2019. Abortion now ends the lives of 1 in every 6 babies in Ireland. It is deeply regrettable that both leaders have refused to listen to women who regret their abortions and feel betrayed by the State for failing to ensure they were properly informed about alternatives to abortion and the supports available should they have chosen to continue their pregnancy. Not only have Micheál Martin and Simon Harris failed in this regard, they are now going one step further by supporting the removal of the life-saving three-day wait.”
Ms Mulroy continued: “Tens of millions of euro in taxpayers’ money have been spent on abortion over the past six years, while no public funding goes towards promoting alternatives. Against that backdrop, the argument that the Sinn Féin bill should proceed to committee stage simply as a matter of routine procedure rings hollow. This is not an ordinary bill. It deals with matters of life and death. At what point, we have to ask, are TDs going to stop facilitating abortion and start working to reduce Ireland’s soaring abortion numbers?
“We are most grateful to the members of the Oireachtas who have spoken out against this bill, and we urge all TDs to vote No at Second Stage tomorrow.”