Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013

This article is about the 2013 Act. For the 2001 Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, see Twenty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2002 (Ireland).

The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 (Irish: An tAcht um Chosaint na Beatha le linn Toirchis 2013;[1] Act No.35 of 2013;[1] previously Bill No.66 of 2013[2]) is an Act of the Oireachtas which defines the circumstances and processes within which abortion in Ireland can be legally performed. The Act gives effect in statutory law to the terms of the Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court in the 1992 judgment Attorney General v. X (the "X case"). That judgment allowed for abortion where pregnancy endangers a woman's life, including through a risk of suicide. The provisions relating to suicide have been the most contentious part of the bill. Having passed both Houses of the Oireachtas in July 2013, it was signed into law on 30 July by Michael D. Higgins, the President of Ireland,[3] and commenced on 1 January 2014.[4][5]

Background

Under section 58 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861, unlawfully attempting to procure a miscarriage was a crime punishable by up to life imprisonment.[6][7] A 1983 amendment to the 1937 Constitution guarantees to vindicate the "right to life of the unborn" with due regard for "the equal right to life of the mother". Proponents of the amendment believed that it would guarantee abortion could never be allowed in any circumstances. However, in 1992 the Supreme Court ruled in Attorney General v. X that abortion was permitted where pregnancy presented "a real and substantial risk to the life, as distinct from the health, of the mother", including where the risk was through suicide.[8] There were two attempts to amend the Constitution to explicitly rule out suicide as grounds for abortion. These were rejected at referendums in 1992 and in 2002; some no-voters felt the restriction was too strong and others that it was not strong enough. No legislation was passed to amend the 1861 act in the light of the 1992 judgment.

In December 2010, in the case A, B and C v Ireland, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that the state had infringed a complainant's rights by not providing clear information on whether she was entitled to an abortion.[9] The state had a year to respond officially, and after the 2011 general election, the new coalition government decided in December 2011 to appoint an expert group to advise on how to implement the ECtHR judgment. The committee reported in November 2012, offering four possibilities: 1) non-statutory guidelines 2) statutory regulations 3) legislation only and 4) legislation plus regulations.[10] Following the death of Savita Halappanavar in Galway on 28 October 2012 of maternal septicemia after a miscarriage, her husband and friends told local pro-choice groups they blamed her death on the denial of her request for an abortion; The Irish Times broke the story on 12 November and it fed into the wider abortion debate.[11][12][13] In December, the government decided to pursue option 4 in the expert group's report: legislation plus regulations.[14]

Provisions

The Act specifies the number and specialty of medical practitioners who must concur that a termination is necessary to prevent a risk of death. These criteria differ in three scenarios:

Risk of loss of life from physical illness
Two physicians, one an obstetrician and the other a specialist in the field of the relevant condition, must concur.[15] For example, if the woman has cancer, the two physicians would be an obstetrician and an oncologist. Where relevant, the specialists must also consult the woman's general practitioner (GP). The termination would be an elective procedure performed at an appropriate institution.
Risk of loss of life from physical illness in emergency
In a medical emergency, a single physician must both provide the diagnosis and perform the termination.[16]
Risk of loss of life from suicide
Three physicians must concur; an obstetrician, a psychiatrist with experience treating women during or after pregnancy, and another psychiatrist.[17] At least one of them should consult the woman's GP with her consent. The termination would be an elective procedure performed at an appropriate institution.

The physicians' diagnosis must be "an opinion formed in good faith which has regard to the need to preserve unborn human life as far as practicable".[18] Normal informed consent is required.[19] Medical personnel with conscience objections to abortion will not be required to participate in terminations, but must transfer care of a patient in such cases.[20] All terminations must be notified to the Minister for Health within 28 days.[21] The Minister will make an annual report of such notifications.[22]

Where a termination is requested but refused, a woman may appeal to the Health Service Executive (HSE).[23] The HSE will establish a panel of at least 10 physicians,[24] from whom a committee of two or three will review any application within three days.[25] The committee members' specialties will depend on whether the condition is physical or mental, in the same way as for the initial assessment.[25] The HSE must publish an annual report on the review process.[26]

The Act also repeals sections 58 and 59 of the 1861 act;[27] these criminalise attempted or actual procurement of miscarriage, and assisting such procurement. It replaces them with a new offence of "destruction of unborn human life", with a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment.[28][29] The director of a body corporate which performs such a procedure can be guilty of a similar offence.[30] As required by the Constitution, the right to travel abroad for abortion (13th amendment), and to provide information about foreign abortion (14th amendment), are protected.[31][32]

The Act defines the "unborn" whose life is protected as existing from implantation in the uterus until "complete emergence ... from the body of the woman".[33] Beginning at implantation conforms to a 2009 Supreme Court judgment on the beginning of pregnancy,[34][35] rather than the Catholic view that personhood begins at conception. The aim of specifying the uterus is to avoid criminalising emergency contraception or treatment of ectopic pregnancy.[36]

The Act empowers the Minister for Health to produce regulations detailing the procedures for all its provisions.[37]

A "senior source" at the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) told The Irish Times that terminations had been carried out there prior to the 2013 Act, and that the change brought about by the Act would be to remove the "fear of a possible Medical Council case".[38]

Approved locations

Except in an emergency, a termination can only be carried out in an "appropriate institution". The Act lists several of these, and empowers the Minister to specify others.[39] The draft bill's list of approved institutions included only maternity hospitals, but was extended to include other hospitals with intensive care units where the nearest maternity hospital did not have emergency medicine facilities.[40]

Dublin
Provincial

Enactment

The bill was drafted by the government and then introduced by it into the Oireachtas or parliament. After both Houses of the Oireachtas passed it, it was signed into law by the President.

Draft

In January 2013, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children held three days of discussions with interest groups on the government's plans.[41][42][43] The meeting was held in the chamber of the Seanad (upper House), rather than a committee room, to allow more people to attend. Journalist Stephen Collins commented that it was an unusual and positive step to hold such a discussion before the drafting of a bill by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to Government.[44] Health Minister James Reilly said in January 2014 that the process had "become now the standard for many bills".[45]

The draft of the bill was published in April 2013.[46] The official announcement stated that the provisions of the proposed legislation being published were strictly within the parameters of the X case.[47] In May 2013, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children held three days of discussions on the draft bill with healthcare and legal professionals.[48][49][50] Its report was laid before the Dáil on 30 May.[51]

Dáil stages

The bill was introduced in Dáil Éireann, the lower House of the Oireachtas, on 16 June 2013. It was the subject of vigorous debate. From the government parties, TDs Terence Flanagan, Peter Mathews, Billy Timmins, and Brian Walsh were expelled from the Fine Gael parliamentary party on 2 July 2013 after voting against the bill's second stage in defiance of a party whip.[52][53] Lucinda Creighton was likewise expelled on 11 July for voting against the bill's report stage;[54] she was also forced to resign as Minister of State for European Affairs.[55] Michael McNamara of Labour also voted against the bill,[56] but the party later explained this had been a mistake.[55] From the opposition parties, Peadar Tóibín was suspended by Sinn Féin for six months after voting no against the whip.[57] While Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin favoured the bill, the party's TDs demanded a free vote, and 13 of 19 voted against. This contributed to media reports that Martin's continued leadership of the party was in doubt.[58]

Six pro-choice technical group TDs voted against the bill: Clare Daly, Joan Collins, Richard Boyd Barrett, Mick Wallace, Joe Higgins and Luke 'Ming' Flanagan.[59][60] They argued instead for a referendum to repeal the 1983 Constitutional amendment which places the life of the mother and the unborn on an equal footing.[60] Boyd Barrett criticised the exclusion of fatal foetal abnormality in the bill, which he said “will force women whose pregnancies will inevitably end in tragedy to go full term or travel overseas for terminations".[60]

At the bill's report stage, 165 amendments were proposed.[61][62] Faced with such a large number, the government decided to let the debate run over the originally allocated time, rather than using a guillotine motion to curtail it. Such a motion might have prevented discussion of the bill's most contentious sections, thereby increasing controversy.[61] The report stage began at 11.50am on 10 July,[63] and was adjourned at 5am the following morning.[64]

At about 2.40am, as deputies were awaiting a division, Tom Barry pulled Áine Collins, a fellow Fine Gael TD for Cork East, onto his lap. Barry apologised publicly and was reprimanded by Fine Gael.[65][66][67] He admitted having drunk alcohol before the incident but denied being drunk.[68] Some politicians called for an end to the practice of the Oireachtas members' private bar remaining open and serving alcohol whenever Oireachtas business is being conducted.[69][70]

Debate resumed at 5pm that evening,[71] and concluded with the final vote at 12.25am on the morning of 12 July.[59] The bill was finally approved by 127 votes to 31.[59][72][73]

Seanad stages

Six days were set aside for the bill's passage through the Seanad.[72][74] It was introduced on Monday 15 July 2013 and passed its second stage the next day by 41 votes to 15.[75] The No voters were: 10 of the 14 Fianna Fáil senators; independents Feargal Quinn and Rónán Mullen; Taoiseach's nominee Mary Ann O'Brien; and Fidelma Healy Eames and Paul Bradford, who lost the Fine Gael whip.[76] Jim Walsh quoted an anti-abortion pamphlet's description of dilation and evacuation,[77] which the bill's supporters criticised as inappropriate.[78][79] Fianna Fáil's Brian Ó Domhnaill claimed that allowing abortions in the case of foetal anomalies would deprive Ireland of future Special Olympics athletes. He also remarked that Down Syndrome babies could be "left to die on sterilised trays".[80] The bill passed its final stage unamended on 23 July 2013, by 39 votes to 14.[81] If the Seanad had rejected or amended the bill, the Dáil would have had to be recalled from its summer recess to consider the Seanad's changes.[72][74]

President

A bill passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas is sent to the President of Ireland to be signed into law. There were suggestions that the Seanad might petition President Michael D. Higgins to call an ordinary referendum on the bill.[82]

Paschal Donohoe suggested Higgins might refer the bill to the Supreme Court under Article 26 of the Constitution, to test whether it is constitutional.[83] The President is required to summon a meeting of the Council of State before any referral, and on 24 July he called such a meeting for 29 July.[84] Of the 24 members of the Council, 21 attended.[85][86] Of the three absentees, Mary Robinson and John Bruton both made written submissions;[86] the third, Albert Reynolds, had Alzheimer's disease.[87] A bill allowed by the Supreme Court under Article 26 can never subsequently have its constitutionality challenged in court.[86] News reports suggested that, for this reason, most members of the Council advised the President not to refer the bill, to allow the Supreme Court to consider it in the light of specific future cases rather than abstract hypothetical cases.[86] Higgins had until 31 July 2013 to either sign or refer the bill;[85][86] in the event, he signed it on 30 July without referral.[3]

Debate

The bill has been criticised by commentators on both sides of the Irish abortion debate, both for being too restrictive, and for not being restrictive enough.

Jurist Gerry Whyte listed and critiqued five hypothetical grounds on which the Act might be argued to be unconstitutional: the lack of explicit time limits; the lack of an opt-out for institutions (as opposed to individuals) with conscience objections; the fact that a refused abortion can be appealed but an allowed abortion cannot; the lack of allowance for fatal fetal abnormality; and the possibility that the X-case judgment is not binding with regard to allowing suicide as grounds.[88]

The Irish Catholic bishops wrote a series of pastoral letters condemning the bill.[89] In May 2013, Fine Gael TD Tom Barry wrote to Cardinal Seán Brady and the nuncio, Charles John Brown, asking whether TDs would be excommunicated if they voted for the bill.[90] Derek Keating's parish priest stopped him serving as minister of the Eucharist after he voted for the Act.[91]

Pro-Life commentators criticised the bill's lack of time limits. Breda O'Brien suggested doctors might induce labour of a borderline-viable fetus, resulting in permanent health problems associated with premature birth.[92] Rónán Mullen suggested the prospect of medical malpractice lawsuits from such births might make doctors prefer late-term abortion instead.[93]

Implementation

While the bill was still in progress, the Department of Health published drafts of the Statutory Instruments for regulations to be introduced by the Minister for Health.[94] Separate regulations deal with certification of appropriate institutions, reporting of procedures performed, and application for review of refused termination.[94]

In August 2013, Kevin Doran, a priest on the board of governors of Mater Misericordiae University Hospital told The Irish Times it could not comply with the Act because of its Catholic ethos, while a hospital spokesperson said it had not yet formulated a policy on the Act.[95] The Irish Times suggested that opting out was permissible, due to the deletion from the bill of an explicit requirement for approved institutions to facilitate terminations.[40] The board held a four-hour meeting on 17 September,[96] and announced on 24 September that it would comply with the act.[97] Doran resigned from the board, while a nun on the board said the hospital "would not be performing abortions" and expressed uncertainty about future decisions.[96][98] A spokesperson for St. Vincent's University Hospital, which has Religious Sisters of Charity management, said in August it would "be following the law of the land".[40] The other approved hospitals are managed by the HSE, and so will provide facilities as a matter of course.[40]

The Irish Times reported on 23 August 2013 that the first abortion under the terms of the Act had been performed several weeks earlier at the NMH.[38][99] In fact, although the act had been passed, it had not commenced.[100] The NMH story was investigated for possible breach of information privacy law.[101] On 31 August, The Irish Times withdrew its story and stated "the case described in the article did not happen".[99]

The Department of Health stated that commencement of the Act would not occur until the finalisation of the regulations required to implement its provisions.[102] The Department established an expert committee comprising twelve people, including ten medical specialists.[5] It first met on 24 September 2013 and was originally expected to report within three months.[5][102] One task was appointing doctors to the review and appeals panels required by the Act, which was accomplished by December.[5][103] On 19 December 2013, Minister Reilly signed several statutory instruments: those specifying regulations for certification, review, and notification of decisions, and a commencement order specifying 1 January 2014 as the date the Act and regulations would come into force.[4][104][105][106][107]

Separate from the administrative regulations are the clinical guidelines for physicians to determine whether a given case meets the legal criteria specified by the Act.[5][102] These were not in place when the Act commenced.[108] There was criticism of the decision to commence the Act and regulations before the guidelines have been established.[5] The College of Psychiatrists advised members not to participate in assessments for risk of loss of life from suicide until the guidelines had been published.[109] The Irish Times reported in January 2014 that the guidelines were being drafted by the Medical Council;[108] on 3 July 2014 it reported that they had been drawn up by the Department of Health and circulated to healthcare professionals.[110] In August 2014 media reported on "Ms Y", who in July had a Caesarean section after 24 weeks' gestation, despite having requested an abortion and being suicidal.[111] A revised version of the June guidelines was published on 19 September 2014.[112] The Irish Times commented that the guidelines differed from those circulated in July, and "appear to go further than the Act in prescribing C-section and early induction"; Minister for Health Leo Varadkar denied the "Ms Y" case had influenced them.[113]

The government on 29 October 2014 made a submission to the Council of Europe on its response to the A, B and C v Ireland judgment, summarizing the Act and ensuing regulations and publicity, and stating that the Health Service Executive would be producing a patient information leaflet for women.[114] On 4 December 2014, the Council's Committee of Ministers closed the case as resolved.[115][116] In February 2015, Clare Daly's private member's bill, to amend the 2013 act to allow abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, was rejected in the Dáil; the government argued that the bill was unconstitutional, which Daly disputed.[117][118][119]

The first annual report on the act's operation was laid before the Dáil on 29 June 2015 by the Minister for Health.[120] The report revealed that in 2014 there had been 26 terminations in the state under the act's previsions, of which three were on grounds of risk of suicide.[120][121][122]

See also

References

Sources

Citations

  1. 1 2 "Legislation Signed by President Higgins: 2013". Office of the President. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 (Number 66 of 2013)". Bills 1992 - 2013. Oireachtas. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  3. 1 2 "President Higgins signs abortion bill into law". Irish Independent. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Commencement Order and Regulations for the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013". Department of Health and Children. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Brennan, Michael (2 January 2014). "Reilly criticised over abortion guidelines delay". Evening Herald. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "Offences Against the Person Act 1861, sec.58". UK Statute Law Database. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  7. ↑ "1861 British Public Statutes". Irish Statute Book. Attorney General of Ireland. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "A.G. v. X [1992] IESC 1; [1992] 1 IR 1". BAILII. 5 March 1992. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "CASE OF A, B AND C v. IRELAND (Application no. 25579/05)". HUDOC. ECtHR. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "REPORT OF THE EXPERT GROUP ON THE JUDGMENT IN A, B AND C V IRELAND" (PDF). Department of Health and Children. November 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "Galway Pro Choice Were Approached by Savita’s Friends". Galway Pro-Choice. 2012-11-21. Retrieved 2015-02-11.
  12. ↑ Holland, Kitty. Savita: The Tragedy that Shook a Nation. Transworld Ireland. p. 70. ISBN 978-1848271838.
  13. ↑ Reilly, Jerome (18 November 2012). "Pro-choice activists got tip-off on tragic death". Irish Independent.
  14. ↑ Reilly, Gavan (18 December 2012). "Government will legislate to allow abortion in line with X Case ruling". Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  15. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §7
  16. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §8
  17. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §9
  18. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §§7(1)(a)(ii), 8(1)(b), 9(1)(a)(ii)
  19. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §16
  20. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §17
  21. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §20(1)–(3)
  22. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §20(4)–(7)
  23. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §10
  24. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §11
  25. 1 2 Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §12
  26. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §15
  27. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §5
  28. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §22
  29. ↑ General Scheme of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013, pp.33–34 "Head 19: Offence"
  30. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §23
  31. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §18
  32. ↑ General Scheme of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013, p.25 "Head 13: Travel and Information"
  33. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §2(1)
  34. ↑ General Scheme of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013, p.5 "Unborn"
  35. ↑ "Roche -v- Roche & ors [2009] IESC 82". BAILII. 15 December 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  36. ↑ General Scheme of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013, p.4 "Implantation"
  37. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §§3,4
  38. 1 2 Cullen, Paul (23 August 2013). "First abortion carried out under new legislation". The Irish Times. p. 1.
  39. ↑ Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, §3 and Schedule
  40. 1 2 3 4 Holland, Kitty (8 August 2013). "Late change could allow Mater opt out of providing abortions". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  41. ↑ "Joint Committee on Health and Children - Implementation of Government Decision Following Expert Group Report into Matters Relating to A, B and C v. Ireland". 8 January 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  42. ↑ "Joint Committee on Health and Children". 9 January 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  43. ↑ "Joint Committee on Health and Children". 10 January 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  44. ↑ Collins, Stephen (13 July 2013). "Abortion debate points way to long overdue Dáil reform". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  45. ↑ Sheehan, Fionnan (1 January 2014). "Abortion law comes into effect - without guidelines - Independent.ie". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  46. ↑ General Scheme of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013
  47. ↑ "Government Publishes General Scheme of the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013". Irish Government News Service. 30 April 2013.
  48. ↑ "Joint Committee on Health and Children - Table of Contents". 17 May 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  49. ↑ "Joint Committee on Health and Children - Table of Contents". 20 May 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  50. ↑ "Joint Committee on Health and Children - Table of Contents". 21 May 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  51. ↑ Joint Committee on Health and Children (30 May 2013). "Report on Protection of life in pregnancy bill 2013 (heads of) : volume 1" (PDF). Documents laid. Oireachtas. Retrieved 10 July 2014. and Joint Committee on Health and Children (30 May 2013). "Report on Protection of life in pregnancy bill 2013 (heads of) : volume 2" (PDF). Documents laid. Oireachtas. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  52. ↑ "Abortion law moves one step closer". Irish Independent. 2 July 2013.
  53. ↑ "Fine Gael expels four TDs for voting against abortion Bill". The Irish Times. 3 July 2013.
  54. ↑ "Creighton votes against Govt in abortion debate". RTÉ News. 11 July 2013.
  55. 1 2 Byrne, Luke (12 July 2013). "Taoiseach forced me to quit, says Lucinda". Evening Herald. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  56. ↑ Hand, Lise (11 July 2013). "McNamara vote provides last minute shock in sea of predictability". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  57. ↑ "TD Tóibín out of Sinn Fein for six months". Meath Chronicle. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  58. ↑ Corcoran, Jody (4 August 2013). "Fianna Fail group aims to oust Micheal Martin". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  59. 1 2 3 "Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (Continued)". Dáil Éireann debates. 11–12 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  60. 1 2 3 "Six pro-choice TDs will vote against the abortion bill tonight". TheJournal.ie. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  61. 1 2 "165 amendments to abortion legislation submitted - RTÉ News". RTÉ.ie. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  62. ↑ "Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Report Amendments" (PDF). Oireachtas. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  63. ↑ "Business of Dáil". Dáil Éireann debates. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  64. ↑ "Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed)". Dáil Éireann debates. 10–11 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  65. ↑ TD Barry apologises for pulling Collins onto lap Irish Times, 2013-07-11.
  66. ↑ ‘Horseplay’ TD Tom Barry ‘mortified’ by his actions Irish Independent, 2013-07-12.
  67. ↑ "Tom Barry 'severely reprimanded' by Fine Gael". RTÉ.ie. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  68. ↑ Riegel, Ralph (16 July 2013). "'Lapgate' TD Tom Barry slams heavy drinking claims - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  69. ↑ "Adams: Dáil bar should be subject to normal licensing laws". Irish Examiner. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  70. ↑ Murphy, Cormac (15 July 2013). "'Lapgate' stirs critics of late Dail boozing". Evening Herald. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  71. ↑ "Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Continued)". Dáil Éireann debates. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013. Sitting suspended at 4 p.m. and resumed at 5 p.m.
  72. 1 2 3 "Dáil votes in favour of abortion legislation". RTÉ.ie. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  73. ↑ "Ireland's parliament approves 'life-saving' abortion". BBC News. 12 July 2013.
  74. 1 2 O'Halloran, Marie (12 July 2013). "Six days set aside for Seanad abortion Bill debate". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  75. ↑ "Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (Continued)". Seanad Éireann debates. Oireachtas. 16 July 2013. p. 41. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  76. ↑ Carbery, Genevieve (16 July 2013). "Two Fine Gael senators vote against whip on abortion". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  77. ↑ "Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (Continued)". Seanad Éireann debates. 16 July 2013. p. 36. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  78. ↑ Crosbie, Judith (17 July 2013). "Graphic description of abortion ‘inappropriate’, says Gilmore". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  79. ↑ Lord, Miriam (17 July 2013). "The air froze in the chamber: Walsh’s input was disgusting". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  80. ↑ "Senator: Abortions would deprive future Special Olympians of life". Irish Times. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  81. ↑ O'Halloran, Marie (23 July 2013). "Seanad passes abortion legislation by 39 votes to 14". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  82. ↑ "TDs to bring abortion legislation to referendum". Irish Examiner. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  83. ↑ "Donohoe: Supreme Court referral would clarify issues on abortion bill". Irish Examiner. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  84. ↑ McGee, Harry (24 July 2013). "Higgins to consult Council of State on abortion Bill". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  85. 1 2 McGee, Harry (30 July 2013). "Higgins to announce decision on abortion Bill tomorrow". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  86. 1 2 3 4 5 Sheahan, Fionnan (30 July 2013). "Higgins urged by advisers to sign abortion bill into law". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  87. ↑ Bray, Allison (4 March 2013). "Reynolds 'on the mend' after weeks in intensive care". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  88. ↑ Whyte, Gerry (18 July 2013). "Five issues could prompt referral of abortion legislation to Supreme Court". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  89. ↑ "Issue 8 of Choose Life Newsletter now available". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  90. ↑ "Barry questions Cardinal : Will Government TDs be excommunicated?". Cork Independent. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  91. ↑ McDowell, Michael (27 October 2013). "Church and politics both need doctrine of reform". Irish Independent. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  92. ↑ O'Brien, Breda (6 July 2013). "Fatally flawed legislation will not put abortion to bed". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 July 2013. In a couple of decades, there will be young adults appearing before tribunals, passionately demanding to know why they, as perfectly healthy unborn children, were singled out for deliberate premature delivery, and left blind, disabled or suffering from cerebral palsy
  93. ↑ O'Halloran, Marie (16 July 2013). "Doctors may use abortion over early delivery to avoid liability if baby disabled, Seanad told". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  94. 1 2 "Preliminary draft of regulations to be made under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, 2013". Publications. Ireland: Department of Health. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  95. ↑ Holland, Kitty (7 August 2013). "Priest on Mater board says hospital cannot carry out abortions". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  96. 1 2 Holland, Kitty. "Mater ‘won’t be performing abortions’, religious board member stresses". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  97. ↑ Holland, Kitty (25 September 2013). "Mater hospital to comply with legislation Hospital says it has carefully considered Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  98. ↑ "Fr Kevin Doran resigns from Mater Hospital board over new abortion law". Irish Independent. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  99. 1 2 "Correction: National Maternity Hospital". The Irish Times. 31 August 2013. p. 7. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  100. ↑ "Termination of twins did not take place under new abortion laws". breakingnews.ie. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  101. ↑ "Hospital contacted over abortion report data leak". RTÉ.ie. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  102. 1 2 3 O'Regan, Eilish (27 September 2013). "Abortion rules won't be ready for three months". Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  103. ↑ Cullen, Paul (24 August 2013). "Abortion legislation not yet 'commenced'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  104. ↑ "S.I. No. 537 of 2013 Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 (Commencement) Order". Statutory Instruments. Attorney General's office. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  105. ↑ "S.I. No. 538 of 2013 Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 (Certification) Regulations". Statutory Instruments. Attorney General's office. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  106. ↑ "S.I. No. 539 of 2013 Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 (Section 10) (Application for review of medical opinion) Regulations". Statutory Instruments. Attorney General's office. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  107. ↑ "S.I. No. 546 of 2013 Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 (Section 20) (Notifications) Regulations". Statutory Instruments. Attorney General's office. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  108. 1 2 Gartland, Fiona (2 January 2014). "Medical Council to bring out new guidelines following commencement of abortion law". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  109. ↑ Holland, Kitty (3 January 2014). "College tells psychiatrists not to do abortion assessments". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  110. ↑ Holland, Kitty (3 July 2014). "Detailed guidelines on legal abortion released". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  111. ↑ Holland, Kitty (23 August 2014). "Rape victim ‘didn’t have a choice’". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  112. ↑ "Implementation of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 – Guidance Document for Health Professionals". Department of Health. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  113. ↑ Holland, Kitty (20 September 2014). "Abortion guidelines provide for induction or Caesarean section". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  114. ↑ "Communication from Ireland concerning the A. B. and C. case against Ireland (Application n° 25579/09)". Committee of Ministers - 1214 meeting (2-4 December 2014). Council of Europe. 29 October 2014. pp. DH–DD(2014)1314. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  115. ↑ Committee of Ministers (4 December 2014). "Resolution CM/ResDH(2014)273 / Case no.9: A, B and C v Ireland". 1214th meeting. Council of Europe. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  116. ↑ Lynch, Suzanne (5 December 2014). "Council of Europe closes case against Ireland on abortion". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  117. ↑ "Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]". Dáil Éireann debates. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  118. ↑ O'Connell, Hugh (10 February 2015). "‘A shameful abandonment’: Just one Labour TD defies party as Clare Daly’s abortion bill voted down". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  119. ↑ "Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) Bill 2013 [PMB] (Number 115 of 2013)". Bills 1997–2015. Oireachtas. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  120. 1 2 "26 pregnancies terminated in Ireland last year". Irish Examiner. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  121. ↑ "Annual Report of notifications in accordance with the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act, 2013" (Press release). Department of Health. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  122. ↑ "ANNUAL REPORT 2014" (PDF). Notifications in Accordance with Section 20 of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013. Department of Health. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.

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