NWC hails removal of mandatory 3-day wait for abortion as major win for women’s health and equality
Published: Thursday, June 18, 2026
The National Women’s Council has long called for the removal of the mandatory wait period
The National Women’s Council (NWC) has said that the progression of the Bill to remove the mandatory 3-day wait period for abortion services is a major win for woman, particularly marginalised and vulnerable women who may find it difficult to access two GP appointments.
NWC’s Executive Director Corrinne Hasson said:
“NWC has campaigned for the removal of this paternalistic and medically unnecessary provision for years now. We know that women in situations of domestic abuse, women living in IPAS centres, disabled women, rural women, and women on lower incomes all face more difficulties attending two GP appointments. We also know that in some cases the mandatory 3-day wait timed women out of care, forcing some to travel. So it’s very welcome that this will now change.”
The legislation introduced after the repeal referendum was subject to a review, carried out by Marie O’Shea and published in 2023. That review recommended that the mandatory 3-day wait be removed but government has not, to date, taken any action to implement the recommendations contained in the O’Shea Review. It is worth noting that neither the Citizens’ Assembly nor the Oireachtas Committee on the 8th amendment ever recommended a 3-day wait period. The removal of the wait period brings Ireland into line with best practice as recommended by the WHO.
Ms Hasson continued:
“While this is a big step forward in terms of access to abortion, there remain considerable issues with the legislation as it stands, such as the criminalisation of healthcare professionals and the 28-day clause on fatal foetal anomaly. Both these provisions can mean that people in devastating circumstances still have to travel for abortion. The National Women’s Council will continue to advocate that this changes, that the 12-week limit be reviewed, and that every woman who needs an abortion can access the care she needs locally.”
The O’Shea Review also recommended that the 28-day clause be removed and that healthcare professionals should not face criminalisation for providing abortion outside of narrowly defined circumstances.
NWC will follow the progress of this Bill and urges all parties to support it throughout the legislative process.
Ends/
For comment: Corrinne Hasson
Find here the O’Shea Review: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/press-releases/minister-for-health-publishes-the-review-of-the-operation-of-the-health-regulation-of-termination-of-pregnancy-act-2018-by-independent-chair-marie-oshea/
Find here the WHO care guidelines on abortion: https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/59a704cc-4024-412a-97d9-55d86d139602/content