Frustration in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael as Martin and Harris set to back Sinn Féin abortion bill

The Dáil has debated Sinn Féin's bill which seeks to remove the three-day reflection period that a woman must wait between seeking an abortion and accessing the service

Government TDs told the 'Irish Examiner' Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris had campaigned for Repeal on the basis that a three-day reflection period would be built in to the legislation. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris will vote in favour of a Sinn Féin bill to remove the three-day wait for abortion services.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael members expressed frustration that their leaders have confirmed their intentions.

On Tuesday night, the Dáil debated Sinn Féin’s bill, which seeks to remove the three-day reflection period that a woman must wait between seeking an abortion and accessing the service.

Responding to queries in the Dáil from Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, the Taoiseach confirmed he will vote in favour of the legislation and that further debate should happen in the Oireachtas health committee. Mr Martin said he recognised that abortion was a “sensitive issue” and was aware of arguments both for and against removing the reflection period.

“I intend to vote for this to go through to committee stage. At committee stage there will be, perhaps, a need for consequential amendments,” he said.

A spokesman for Mr Harris confirmed there would be a free vote for all Government TDs on Wednesday evening.

“The Tánaiste will support the bill to remove the three-day waiting period,” said the spokesman. “That is his personal view and is reflective of the engagement he has had with women and medical professionals.”

TD: Taoiseach 'overstepped the mark' 

Several TDs in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael told the Irish Examiner they were unhappy that the Taoiseach and Tánaiste explicitly stated how they intended to vote in the Dáil, stating that they campaigned during the referendum to repeal the eighth amendment on the basis that a three-day reflection period would be built in.

One TD said the “majority” of people in Fianna Fáil think the Taoiseach “overstepped the mark”.

Speaking on behalf of health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill in the Dáil, junior minister Emer Higgins said while there would be “operational considerations and challenges” to abolishing the three-day wait, they are “not insurmountable”.

“The model of care for termination of pregnancy services, the national clinical guidelines, service configuration, and public information materials all centre around the requirement for a three-day wait,” she said.

“The provisions of services would therefore have to be fundamentally reconfigured if this bill were to pass, and it would therefore require careful consideration and planning.”

Ms Higgins said that clarification would be needed on whether assessment and treatment could occur during the same visit, and whether same-day treatment would be “expected or simply permitted”.

Women 'can still reflect for three days'

Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane said women would be able to continue reflecting over three days if they wish, and it would not “require an abortion to happen on the day of a first consultation”. 

Ms McDonald noted that, due to the reflection period, some women pass the 12-week pregnancy mark and can no longer avail of services.

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín was one of several TDs who spoke against the proposed legislation, saying there were “thousands of lives being lost in the country on an annual basis” due to abortion. 

Independent TD Carol Nolan said she had received parliamentary question responses from the HSE suggesting that “thousands of women do not return after the three days”, and this was “proof” that the waiting period results in some people “reconsider”.

Former minister Michael Healy-Rae said it was a “national tragedy” that “over 60,000 abortions have happened since the law changed”.

The Dáil will vote on the bill on Wednesday evening.

• Louise Burne, Political Correspondent