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National Women’s Council welcomes abortion review

Published: Wednesday, April 26, 2023

The National Women’s Council (NWC) has welcomed Marie O’Shea’s report on Ireland’s abortion law, saying it paves the way for change. It is also welcome that this important independent review will go to the Oireachtas Health Committee, and it’s crucial we see a timeline for this to progress in this Dáil term.  

NWC director Orla O’Connor said:  

“The referendum to repeal the 8th amendment was a watershed moment for the women of Ireland. But we know many barriers to access remain. This review, guaranteed by law, was an essential piece of the legislation when it was introduced and it’s very welcome to see it now ”.  

The National Women’s Council coordinates the abortion working group, which brings together women’s advocacy groups, service providers, legal experts and more. The group has been calling for changes to the system so that all women can access the care they need and will hold a press conference in response on Thursday.  

Ends/ 

For comment: Orla O’Connor or Alana Ryan 

The Abortion Working Group will host a press conference at 10am on Thursday 27 April in Brooks Hotel, Drury Street, with full analysis of this review and its potential for women. 
Speakers will include:  

Orla O’Connor, Director, National Women’s Council 

Alison Spillane, Irish Family Planning Association  

Dr Mary Favier, Doctors for Choice / START Doctors 

Doireann Ansbro, Irish Council for Civil Liberties  

Sinéad Kennedy, Action for Choice and author of the NWC research report 

Patricia Acom, AkiDwA 

Find here the Abortion Working Group’s submission to the review: https://www.nwci.ie/discover/what_we_do/abortionaccess/abortion_working_group_joint_submission_to_the_abortion_review 

For more information, please contact Sinéad Nolan, NWC Communications and Social Media Coordinator on sineadn@nwci.ie 

About NWC  

The National Women’s Council is the leading national representative organisation for women and women’s groups in Ireland, founded in 1973. We have over 190 member groups and a large and growing community of individual supporters. 

This year we celebrate 50 years since our foundation with a special calendar of events and campaigns. 

The ambition of the National Women’s Council is an Ireland where every woman enjoys true equality and no woman is left behind. This ambition shapes and informs our work, and, with our living values, how we work.  

We are a movement-building organisation rooted in our membership, working on the whole island of Ireland. We are also part of the international movement to protect and advance women’s and girls’ rights. Our purpose is to lead action for the achievement of women’s and girls’ equality through mobilising, influencing, and building solidarity. Find out more on www.nwci.ie