IRISH REPUBLIC

Irish Republic holds vote on loosening its strict abortion laws

May 25, 2018

The Irish government holds a referendum on repealing the country’s Eighth Amendment, which gives equal rights to a pregnant woman and an unborn child.

The public will decide if abortion should be legalized "in almost all cases." If Ireland votes in favour of repeal, the government has said it will introduce legislation permitting unrestricted abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

New rules came into effect in 2013 under Ireland’s Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act. It allows abortion when there is a real and substantial risk to a woman’s life, but the ban remains in place for cases of rape, incest, inevitable miscarriage and fatal fetal abnormality.

Britain’s Independent notes that Ireland has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. The Eighth Amendment became law at a time when contraception was also illegal in Ireland, according to the newspaper.

A woman convicted of having an illegal abortion faces up to 14 years in jail. Women are allowed to travel abroad for terminations.

Irish cities have seen regular demonstrations both for and against repealing the amendment in the majority Catholic country.

#22322 UPDATE MAR 31 TO SHOW FIRM DATE