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: The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (“the Act of 2018”) was passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas on 13 December 2018 and signed into law by the President on 20 December 2018. The main purpose of the Act of 2018 is to set out the law governing access to termination of pregnancy in Ireland. It permits termination to be carried out in cases where there is a risk to the life, or of serious harm to the health, of the pregnant woman, including in an emergency; where there is a condition present which is likely to lead to the death of the foetus either before or within 28 days of birth; and without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

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/)

* Covid emergency regulations in 2020 allowed the two mandatory physician visits (separated by a minimum of three days) to be undertaken remotely. This emergency provision was made permanent in 2023.

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 2023, among women who had induced abortion:

• 94.5% lived in Ireland.

Source:

• https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2e8ff-notifications-in-accordance-with-section-20-of-the-health-regulation-of-termination-of-pregnancy-act-2018-annual-report-2023/

Source: https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-vsys/vitalstatisticsyearlysummary2023/

Women age at first birth

• 31.6 years of age (2023)

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:

• https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-vsys/vitalstatisticsyearlysummary2023/
• 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/)