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voted for and endorsed by the people in 2018 and the too many barriers which remain. One of those barriers is the three-day wait. Sinn Féin supports removing the three-day wait. We never supported the three-day wait in the first place. We have tabled legislation … remove the three-day wait and have always been clear that this waiting period does not provide care or support or make the service safer. Rather, it simply makes access harder. We do, however, have significant concerns about the proposed new definition of a condition likely to lead

there is a broad spectrum of sincerely held opinion on the issue of termination of pregnancy, and on the removal of the three-day wait. This House needs to facilitate an open and respectful debate to reflect both sides of the argument and all views. It is important … House that this remains an ongoing priority. I am also aware that the arguments for and against the removal of the mandatory three-day waiting period have been well aired in the public domain. At the outset, one very important thing to do is to point out that

read a Second Time." This is an important piece of legislation before the Dáil. It is a Bill to remove the mandatory three-day wait for women who need an abortion. It goes without saying that every woman must have the space, the understanding and the support … would trust women, and that is what we must do, not just with words or promises but with delivery. In truth, the three-day waiting period should never have been introduced. In fact, the original review of the legislation states very clearly that the three-day wait

cannot have a mole removed, have cosmetic surgery or be sterilised without a period to wait and reflect. We know the three-day wait is working. How do we know this? This is key - it is because 10,000 mothers who attended their first abortion meeting simply … wait, had she spoken to one woman who went to the first abortion appointment, took three days to reflect, changed her mind and kept her baby? She admitted on the record of the committee she did not speak to one woman who availed of a three-day wait

month ago to express her own personal position with regard to the part of the O'Shea report relating to the three-day wait. We are not going to be a lot further along after this debate in providing those assurances. It is now in the power … this evening, there is now an onus on the Government to expedite the legislation to ensure that we get rid of the three-day wait. Back in 2018, I was extremely proud to be a part of the Dublin Central Together for Yes campaign. In fact, I will

provide care with compassion and remove barriers to access. There are currently too many barriers to accessing terminations in Ireland, and the three-day wait is a core part of that and needs to be removed. We are strongly in support of that. As others have said … three-day wait is medically unnecessary and insulting to women. It is the only form of healthcare with a State-imposed delay. It is a paternalistic restriction, and we have a history of paternalistic attitudes in our healthcare service that need to be undone. It is interfering with

Removal of the mandatory three-day wait period for abortion in early pregnancy is a hugely step forward for women the length and breadth of this country. As it stands, it affects women's access to healthcare right across Ireland; women from all different backgrounds who have made … muddy the waters, play politics with women's health, and make baseless claims about this Bill. This Bill is focused on the three-day wait and nothing else. I acknowledge all those women and men who campaigned against the original eighth amendment and then successfully campaigned to remove

day. People cannot get a mole removed or cosmetic surgery or be sterilised without a wait to reflect. We also know that three-day wait period is actually working for families. We know that 10,000 mothers attend the first abortion meeting and they did not attend … second one. There are thousands of children alive in their homes today as a result of that three-day wait period. When the abortion review was being discussed in the health committee in the previous Dáil, I asked the chair of that review a direct and important question

review found that, while the vast majority of early-stage terminations were accessed smoothly, significant structural and legislative barriers remained, including the three-day wait rule addressed by this proposed … legislation. The report recommended the removal of the mandatory three-day wait, stating it delays time-sensitive healthcare and is demeaning to patients. As these services are not operated 365 days per year, the three-day wait can extend to four or five days, particularly if the first

day wait for an early-pregnancy abortion. The review of the operation of the Act was published three years ago. It highlighted serious imbalances in access to care, significant geographic variation in access to services, the underdevelopment of regional services and barriers such as the three-day wait … counties. The review recommended a geospatial analysis of services to identify the biggest gaps. Sinn Féin supports the abolition of the mandatory three-day wait for an early-pregnancy abortion. We introduced legislation that would remove the mandatory three-day wait for access to an abortion during early

address what is a legislative gap that was identified in the O'Shea report and urgently needs to be addressed. The three-day wait is a hangover of the infantilising, patronising and misogynistic treatment of women that we have seen recur many times in our provision of health … health and circumstances, and we know our own family planning. We need to be able to access it. The imposition of a three-day waiting period goes against all of that. By all means, if people wish to self-impose a three-day waiting period, they absolutely should

residual, insulting, patriarchal mistrust of women that forms the basis of the mandatory three-day wait and the Government's unwillingness to engage with the evidence that other change is needed. I welcome the Taoiseach's confirmation that he will vote in support of the Private Members' Bill … remove the three-day wait on Second Stage tonight, but even if that reform is introduced, it will not be enough. It will not be enough, in particular, for women who receive a devastating diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality and who still have to travel abroad because

this Chamber and who have felt the need to share their stories in order to help others. The question of the mandatory three-day wait has been to the forefront of this conversation. Sinn Féin has been clear from the get-go that we are opposed … three-day wait and that it hinders women's ability to access the care they need. This is not just something we believe but something women have told us consistently since the repeal of the eighth amendment. As with everything, there are many examples and differing realities concerning

women and to respect their right to choose on all aspects relating to their healthcare. I reaffirm the term "healthcare" because the three-day waiting period was not introduced as a health measure but as a political consideration and we know it is not something required by principles … should acknowledge that just a couple of weeks ago I was speaking in favour of legislation that also sought to remove the three-day waiting period and in addition sought to address other issues that were highlighted in the O’Shea report. While this Bill is more narrow

legislation. I look back on the speeches given on the day the post-repeal legislation was introduced here in the Dáil. The three-day wait was opposed by Sinn Féin, the Labour Party and People Before Profit, PBP. I have to say that we were right to oppose … glad to say that other parties that did not take the opportunity that night have come to the same conclusion. The three-day wait is nothing more than a political construct. It was not recommended by the citizens' assembly, and anyone who watched the proceedings

termination of pregnancy. This is a straightforward and targeted Bill. It does just one thing. It proposes to remove the mandatory three-day wait for access to an abortion during early pregnancy. It does not require an abortion to happen on the day of a first consultation … women and the review of the principal Act was that some women were being pushed beyond the 12-week threshold by the three-day wait, which denied them their choice to end a pregnancy. This is not a complicated proposal. It is a focused, practical and compassionate change

politics here in Ireland. This is only the beginning, though. We are still fighting and legislating for healthcare services for women. The three-day wait rule should never have been introduced following the repeal referendum. I would go so far as to say that women's healthcare should … those who have extremely difficult circumstances, including women who have suffered from domestic violence, coercive control by a partner or rape. A three-day wait is the very last thing a woman in those circumstances needs. This is a time when they need to be listened

debate on the three-day wait continues at the health committee, women still face barriers to accessing abortion care. The HSE clinical director said there was no medical evidence behind retaining this provision and the Government must act urgently to remove the three-day wait. More significantly … travel and addressing geographic gaps in service provision. Will the Government outline a legislative roadmap for implementing these recommendations beyond the three-day wait? I know this issue is difficult and contentious but we cannot continue to ignore the recommendations of the review

women's abortion experiences. I want to ask Deputy Cairns this question directly today. Before bringing forward this Bill to abolish the three-day wait and widen the grounds for late-term abortions, did she accept or ignore the request to meet women who deeply regretted their abortions … from her party answer them. It is well documented from replies to parliamentary questions that thousands of women have availed of the three-day wait and have gone on to keep their babies. With that evidence before us, I cannot fathom how any party would seek to abolish

important legislative change. At the end of the day, and as far as I can see it, we are talking about a three-day wait for women to be able to access essential healthcare. Fundamentally, that is what this is about. It was never necessary in the context … strongest recommendations of the O'Shea report. The testimony brought forward by many women is that the three-day wait has created immense difficulties, particularly for women who are coming from a background where they are experiencing coercive control or domestic violence, where attending even one appointment

less stigmatising access to abortion for women who need it for what it is, that is, healthcare. Sinn Féin supports removing the three-day wait period and replacing it with a right-to-reflection period. I welcome the opportunity to debate the shortcomings that exist in abortion services … large parts of the country women are not in a position to access abortion services. That clearly needs to be addressed. The three-day wait period, which Sinn Féin did not ever support, creates an unnecessary obstacle. It puts women in difficult situations, in particular women from minority

outlined earlier by the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, this alleviates some of the difficulty that may be associated with the mandatory three-day waiting period in that it reduces the time and expense involved in travelling to the doctor's surgery twice. It also improves access … ground. There is a broad range of sincerely held and articulately expressed views on termination of pregnancy and the removal of the three-day wait. In the interests of being helpful, I will briefly address some of the points raised while I have been in the Chamber

their own time. This is a straightforward and targeted Bill. It does just one thing. It proposes to remove the mandatory three-day wait for access to an abortion during early pregnancy. It does this by deleting section 12(3) and by amending section 12(4) to remove … subject to controlling or abusing partners and for whom that first appointment may be the only appointment they get. The three-day wait was examined as part of the review of the operation of the Act. Its removal is one of the clearest recommendations arising from that process

that it is a barrier to accessing the same compassionate care people voted for. To the best of my knowledge, a three-day waiting period enshrined in law does not apply to any other medical procedure, yet here we are this evening debating the removal of a mandatory … already difficult decision and sometimes in awful, harrowing circumstances. Nobody makes the decision to access a termination lightly and removing this mandatory three-day wait will not stop anyone who wants to take more time to make their decision. Removing this unnecessary wait period is the right thing

there and say that. I was not surprised because I saw Sinn Fein rushing through a Bill here last Thursday on a three-day wait. I had a Bill on the three-day wait. It is great that Sinn Féin has one eight years after repeal. I knew

officials or representatives who appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health in relation to the proposal to remove the three-day waiting period for abortion; if so, the date and nature of the training provided; the provider of the training; the cost incurred; the number of persons

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health in light of the removal of the mandatory three-day waiting period, and reports that girls as young as 14 and 15 are presenting for services; the safeguarding measures that are in place to assess how these minors became pregnant

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health given the removal of the three-day waiting period and reports of increasing numbers of girls aged 14 and 15 presenting for services, the steps taken by medical practitioners to establish the circumstances of such pregnancies; whether practitioners are required

Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE have carried out an internal review or investigation into the impact of the three-day waiting period provision within the existing abortion legislation, including input from women who continued their pregnancies after an initial consultation about abortion with

Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE have carried out an internal review or investigation into the impact of the three-day waiting period provision within the existing abortion legislation, including input from women who continued their pregnancies after an initial consultation about abortion with

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she will legislate to end the three-day wait for abortion services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4679/26

October 2025, if her Department has accepted the recommendations of the Marie O’Shea report in regard to the removal of the three-day waiting period, the end of criminalisation of doctors and the need for clarity when it comes to providing abortion in cases of fatal foetal