Ireland lawmakers vote down 'radical' abortion expansion bill

Lawmakers in Ireland's Dáil voted down a bill on December 16 that would have radically expanded and decriminalized abortion.

Key Takeaways:

• Lawmakers rejected an attempt to forward a pro-abortion bill that would have radically expanded abortion in the country.

• Ironically, 23 lawmakers who voted to outlaw fox hunting also voted to allow even more killing of preborn children.

• Pro-lifers in Ireland are optimistic that the vote's failure marks a turning of the tide for the abortion movement, as abortions have skyrocketed since they were first legally available in 2019.

The Details:

The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) (Amendment) Bill 2023 would have amended Ireland's current law to legalize abortion on demand up to six months, eliminate a three-day waiting period, decriminalize abortion, and allow abortion up to birth for preborn children given a life-limiting diagnosis.

According to Gript, the bill previously passed the second stage of the Dáil in 2023, but lapsed during last year's general election. This week, one of the bill's sponsors, TD Paul Murphy, attempted to bring it back — a move that required the support of lawmakers via a vote. However, TDs in the Dáil voted 73 to 71 not to renew the bill. According to The Irish Times, it was the closest vote in the Dáil this session.

TDs vote NOT to restore “extreme” abortion Bill

Eilís Mulroy of the Pro Life Campaign applauded the vote, saying:

“We are greatly encouraged by the result. The radical bill, if reintroduced and passed into law, would have among other things permitted abortion on request throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy. The bill specifically mentions the 'decriminalisation' of abortion and it would also have scrapped the life-saving three day wait before an abortion."

He added:

“As a society, we should be prioritising alternatives to abortion and meaningful support for women, not policies that drive abortion numbers higher. The real task ahead is to ensure that no woman is left feeling she has no option but abortion. I am very hopeful that greater unity will be found around this goal moving forward.”

Abortion in Ireland has been legal since 2019, and since that time, abortion rates have skyrocketed. Data from 2024 shows that there were 10,852 abortions in that year, a 62.8% increase over the 6,666 abortions committed in 2019.

Zoom In:

Pro Life Campaign also pointed out that, ironically, the vote came on the same day that members were also voting on a bill to outlaw fox hunting. Twenty-three TDs voted to protect foxes while also voting to expand the killing of preborn children.

As the Pro Life Campaign noted:

It’s difficult to believe that any member of the Dáil is unaware of the profound violence abortion inflicts on an unborn child, or of the many women who speak of deep regret following their abortion. That legislators, fully conscious of these realities, can nonetheless dismiss the value of human life while making an emphatic stand for foxes is extraordinary. We are certainly living in a period defined by contradictions.

The Bottom Line:

Though thousands of preborn children in Ireland are still being legally killed, the failure of such a radical abortion bill to proceed marks a sign of hope for pro-lifers in the country. As the Pro Life Campaign noted in a press release, "This marks the first Dáil victory for the movement in a long time and should encourage every pro-life supporter across Ireland. It demonstrates what can be achieved when we remain positive, committed, and resolute."