KEEP the 3-day wait before abortion - and save up to 1,000 babies a year
In 2018, voters were told by both Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste Simon Coveney - and others in the Yes campaign - that abortion would only be legal under "strict guidelines" including a 3 day period of reflection for a woman seeking abortion. But, now abortion campaigners want to SCRAP the 3-day wait, even though data suggests it saves up to 1,000 babies every year. Women need that time to think - and they need YOU to speak up so that they have time to choose life over abortion.
A Promise Made to Voters
Many voters - even many YES voters - remember that Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar and others promised that the 3-day wait would be part of the abortion law in the 2018 referendum. In fact, he and other Yes leaders used the promise of the 3-day wait to convince people to support repeal. Voters were told the 3-day wait was a 'safeguard' in the referendum - and promised it would be part of the law. Let's hold them to that promise.
HSE Data on the Reflection Period
Data from the HSE shows that an average of 1,000 women a year do not return for an abortion after the 3-day wait. This time for reflection shows "the magnitude of the decision to terminate a pregnancy". According to the HSE, there were 8,057 initial consultations for Termination of Pregnancy services in 2020, while the Department also confirmed that 6,577 abortions were carried out. That suggests that more than 1,400 women appear to have changed their mind and did not go ahead with an abortion during the 3-day period.
| Year | Initial Consultations | Completed Abortions | Estimated Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 7,536 | 6,666 | 870 (11.5%) |
| 2020 | 8,057 | 6,577 | 1,400+ (18.4%) |
| 2021 | 8,284 | 6,683 | 1,600 |
Medical experts say that "this data offers a hugely important insight that must not be ignored." There are very few Irish people, whether healthcare professionals or otherwise, who would welcome an increase in the number of abortions taking place. If women are finding support for an unexpected pregnancy during the 3-day wait, then that should be welcomed.
Medical and Public Support for Retention
Top OB/GYN Consultant Trevor Hayes supports 100+ doctors and nurses who say 3-day wait must be retained. They urge no change in law as '3-day reflection before abortion helps women'. As Doctors for Life said, scrapping that time to think would not just be a betrayal of voters, but a dereliction of duty to women and babies. Most reasonable people will think fewer abortions is a GOOD thing - especially now that it has been confirmed that the number of abortions in Ireland jumped a shocking 25% in 2022 with 8,156 abortions in that year.
Take Action: Contact Your TD
Abortion supporters are pushing hard to scrap the 3-day wait before abortion. But TDs are already saying that they are worried voters are opposed to scrapping the 3-day wait - because that would 'renege' on promises made in the referendum. So they need to hear from YOU today. Tell YOUR TD that:
- The 3-day wait means less abortions according to the HSE's own data - so it MUST be retained.
- Voters were told the 3-day wait was a 'safeguard' in the referendum - and promised it would be part of the law.
- You can ALSO tell your TD that you are informing other voters that this promise MUST be kept.
Find details for your TD and call or email them TODAY please. It is better to visit him/her at his clinic than a phonecall; a phonecall is better than a letter; a letter is better than an email. But the most important thing is that you do make your views known to him / her; if they don't hear from constituents, they think it's a dead issue.