Three-day abortion wait could be removed while preserving option for reflection, committee told

The Bill, currently being considered by the Oireachtas health committee, would remove the statutory three-day waiting period between an initial consultation and a termination of pregnancy. File picture

Removing the mandatory three-day waiting period for an abortion would not prevent women from taking a period of reflection before proceeding, health officials have told an Oireachtas committee.

The Department of Health said it intends to propose an amendment to a Sinn Féin private members’ Bill to ensure “the option of a reflection period is preserved” if the mandatory requirement is removed.