Opinion
28 Apr 26

Social Democrats to introduce Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill: "We need to deliver on the promise of Repeal"

Abortion rights activists rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on April 15, 2023. Hundreds gathered on Capitol Hill as part of a nationwide day of protest, organized by women's rights advocates and health care providers, opposing legal efforts to restrict the abortion drug mifepristone. (Photo by Alejandro Alvarez/Sipa USA)No Use Germany.

Sophie Gliott

“Eight years ago, together, we legalised abortion access in Ireland. But that was the bare minimum. It’s time to go back for more,” reads the Social Democrat's post.

The Social Democrats have introduced the Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill 2026, aimed at modernising Ireland’s abortion laws.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns is spearheading the legislation. The suggested updates to the law include eliminating the need for travel in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, abolishing the mandatory three-day waiting period, and decriminalising doctors who provide abortion services.

“In 2026, women should not be forced onto boats and planes to access care they should be receiving at home,” said the party’s Instagram statement. “There is no mandatory waiting period to access any other healthcare procedure. It’s patronising. It delays care and it brings patients closer to the 12-week limit. No other medical procedure carries a shadow of criminalisation for doctors. This results in medical professionals making overly-cautious decisions.”

Abortion became legal in Ireland in 2019 following the successful 2018 referendum to repeal the 8th Amendment. Although the repeal of the 8th Amendment allowed for abortion access in the first 12 weeks, some women still have to travel to the UK for terminations in cases of foetal abnormality. In Ireland, two medical practitioners must certify that the condition is likely to result in death before or within 28 days for the treatment to be available.

Cairns indicated her legislation aims to enact the recommendations of the review conducted by Marie O’Shea and published three years prior.

“In particular, my legislation seeks to ensure that women, who receive a devastating diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality, no longer have to travel for care,” Cairns said. “This is especially important given women who endured that horror, and spoke publicly about their trauma, were a key reason for the success of the Repeal campaign.”