Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018
Oireachtas
  • An Act to provide for and regulate termination of pregnancy; to make provision for reviews at the instigation of a pregnant woman, or a person on her behalf, of certain medical opinions given in respect of pregnancy; to make available without charge certain services to women for the purpose of termination of pregnancy in accordance with this Act and, for that purpose, to amend the Health Act 1970 and certain other enactments; to provide for offences in respect of the intentional ending of the life of a foetus otherwise than in accordance with this Act; to amend the Bail Act 1997; to repeal the Regulation of Information (Services outside the State for Termination of Pregnancies) Act 1995, the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 and provisions of certain other enactments; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
CitationAct 31 of 2018
Considered by32nd Dáil
Passed5 December 2018
Considered by25th Seanad
Passed13 December 2018
Signed byMichael D. Higgins
Signed20 December 2018
Commenced1 January 2019
Legislative history
First chamber: 32nd Dáil
Bill citationBill 105 of 2018
Introduced bySimon Harris
Introduced27 September 2018
First reading27 September 2018
Second reading4 October 2018
Third reading5 December 2018
Committee report27 October 2018
Second chamber: 25th Seanad
Member(s) in chargeMinister for Health (Simon Harris)
Second reading5 December 2018
Third reading13 December 2018
Committee report11 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 A referendum on 25 May 2018 approved the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution, which in effect repealed the Eighth Amendment and empowered the Oireachtas to legislate for abortion.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]

  1. ^ Conneely, Ailbhe (13 December 2018). "Abortion legislation passes all stages of Oireachtas". RTÉ.ie.
  2. ^ "Abortion legalised in Ireland as president signs bill". RTÉ.ie. 20 December 2018.