Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 | |
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Oireachtas | |
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Citation | Act 31 of 2018 |
Considered by | 32nd Dáil |
Passed | 5 December 2018 |
Considered by | 25th Seanad |
Passed | 13 December 2018 |
Signed by | Michael D. Higgins |
Signed | 20 December 2018 |
Commenced | 1 January 2019 |
Legislative history | |
First chamber: 32nd Dáil | |
Bill citation | Bill 105 of 2018 |
Introduced by | Simon Harris |
Introduced | 27 September 2018 |
First reading | 27 September 2018 |
Second reading | 4 October 2018 |
Third reading | 5 December 2018 |
Committee report | 27 October 2018 |
Second chamber: 25th Seanad | |
Member(s) in charge | Minister for Health (Simon Harris) |
Second reading | 5 December 2018 |
Third reading | 13 December 2018 |
Committee report | 11 December 2018 |
Repeals | |
Keywords | |
Abortion | |
Status: In force |
The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (Act No. 31 of 2018; previously Bill No. 105 of 2018) is an Act of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) which defines the circumstances and processes within which abortion may be legally performed in Ireland. It permits termination under medical supervision, generally up to 12 weeks' pregnancy,[clarification needed] and later if pregnancy poses a serious health risk or there is a fatal foetal abnormality.[1]
Prior to 2018, abortion was legal only where pregnancy presented "a real and substantial risk to the life" of the woman, as mandated by the 1983 Eighth Amendment of the Constitution and regulated by the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013. A referendum on 25 May 2018 approved the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution, which in effect repealed the Eighth Amendment and empowered the Oireachtas to legislate for abortion. The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill was published on 27 September 2018 and signed into law on 20 December 2018. The act came into force on 1 January 2019.[2]