Ireland

• 1861: Abortion is a criminal offence (Offences Against the Person Act, Sections 58 and 59)
• 1983: Inscription of article 40.3.3 in Irish Constitution
• 1992: Constitutional Amendment: no limit to have information or travel for the purpose of having abortion
• 1995: Regulation of Information Act (services outside the state for termination of pregnancies)
• 2018: Article 40.3.3 of the Irish Constitution was repealed by referendum in May 2018. Following this the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018 (Bill 105 of 2018) passed through both houses of the government in December 2018. It allows for legal provision of abortion services and repeals the Regulation of Information Act.

Source: http://www.ippfen.org, http://www.ifpa.ie, https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2018/105

* Except in an emergency ** For fœtal impairment deemed to be fatal

Source: Houses of the Oireachats (https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2018/105/)

Legal conditions

According to Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018

• Written consent by the woman
• Pre-abortion examination (for abortion on request only)
• Mandatory 3-day period between pre-abortion consultation and abortion procedure (for abortion on request only).

Specific conditions for minors

Guided by other legislation. No specific mention in Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018.

• Specific legal counselling
• Mandatory reporting of underage sex (minors under 17) where there are concerns that a minor may be at risk of abuse.
• Parent’s (or guardian’s) consent required for minors under 16 to have an abortion, except where discretion is given by health care professionals (e.g., a mature 15 year-old).

Source:

• Houses of the Oireachats – https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2018/105/
• electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB) – http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1997/act/26/enacted/en/html
• Tusla – Child and Family Agency – https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/mandated-persons/

Source: Houses of the Oireachats (https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2018/105/)

Mandatory pre-abortion examinations

• None

Involved healthcare professionals

• Surgical abortion: obstetrician/gynaecologist (OB/GYN), another physician or another health care professional up to 12 weeks from LPM; OB/GYN only beyond 12 weeks from LMP
• Medical abortion: OB/GYN, another physician or another health care professional up to 12 weeks from LMP; OB/GYN only beyond 12 weeks from LMP

Source:

• Tithe an Oireachtais, Houses of the Oireachats – https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2018/105/

Source:

In 2021, among women who had induced abortion:

• 95% lived in Ireland.

Source:

• https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ce61b-notifications-in-accordance-with-section-20-of-the-health-regulation-of-termination-of-pregnancy-act-2018-annual-report-2021/

Source: https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-vsys/vitalstatisticsyearlysummary2021/

Women age at first birth

• 31.6 years of age (2021)

Overall contraception data

94% of people aged 18-45 used a contraceptive method (2010)

• 43% used oral contraceptive
• 11% used intra-uterine device (IUD)

Source:

• McBride O, Morgan K, McGee H. Irish Contraception and Crisis Pregnancy Study 2010 (ICCP-2010). A Survey of the General Population. Crisis Pregnancy Programme Report No. 24. Dublin: Health Service Executive Crisis Pregnancy Programme (CPP), 2012. (https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/corporate/iccp2010.pdf)

Source:

• Houses of the Oireachats (https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2018/105/)
• IPPF European Network (http://www.ippfen.org/)