Most Westmeath and Roscommon TDs vote against bill to end three-day abortion wait period

Four of the five TDs in the Longford-Westmeath constituency, and two of the three in the Roscommon-Galway constituency, have voted against legislation to end the mandatory three-day waiting period for accessing abortion services.

Despite this the Sinn Féin bill, which was supported by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris, was passed last night (Wednesday) by 86 votes to 70.

In Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael Minister Peter Burke and Fianna Fáil Minister of State Robert Troy both cast opposing votes to their party leaders, while Independent Minister of State Kevin 'Boxer' Moran and Longford Fine Gael TD Micheál Carrigy, also voted against the legislation.

The bill, which would remove the legally required delay between a woman’s first medical consultation and access to an abortion, was supported by the Sinn Fein TDs each constituency, Sorca Clarke in Longford-Westmeath and Claire Kerrane in Roscommon-Galway. It will now go before an Oireachtas committee for further scrutiny.

Opponents of the bill argued that the three-day waiting period was part of the framework presented to voters during the 2018 referendum on repealing the eighth amendment, and that it acts as a safeguard in a sensitive area of healthcare.

Those in favour of ending the waiting period have described it as "paternalistic" and medically unnecessary.

Speaking in favour of the bill, Sorca Clarke TD said: "When the Irish people voted to repeal the eighth amendment, they voted to trust women and to trust the decisions they made about their own healthcare, their own bodies and their own lives.

"For women living with intimate partner abuse and domestic violence, those three days, each and every one of them, is another barrier to healthcare.

"If we want to get to a compassionate healthcare system, we must remove barriers, not reinforce and create them."

In opposition, Robert Troy said abortion is "a deeply personal and often emotional issue", adding "I fully respect that people hold different views".

"When I voted to repeal the 8th Amendment, I did so based on the legislation that was presented at the time. That legislation included safeguards, one of which was the 3-day waiting period.

"For me, it’s important that we stand by the framework that people voted for, even as we continue to listen and reflect on different perspectives."