Roderic O'Gorman outlines Green Party support for a bill to remove the three-day waiting period for abortion care, arguing it is a political, not a clinical, measure. He calls for the government and Minister for Health to commit to rapid committee consideration and for further amendments to address fatal fetal abnormalities.
Summary of the speech
Roderic O'Gorman speaks on behalf of the Green Party to support the bill to remove the three-day waiting period. He recalls the 2018 repeal campaign, stresses the need to listen to women, and argues the waiting period is not required by good clinical practice.
Why the change matters
O'Gorman cites the World Health Organization and the O'Shea report, both of which found waiting periods unnecessary, and describes the three-day rule as a political imposition that creates paternalistic and traumatic experiences for women. He welcomes the narrow bill as progress while urging further reform on issues such as fatal fetal abnormalities.
Political context and coalition memory
He recalls how repeal in 2018 was achieved through cross-party and community cooperation and urges similar progressive cooperation now, including a clear commitment from the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health. He welcomes a free vote and calls on government to show seriousness by rapidly tabling the bill at committee stage.
Next steps and consequences
O'Gorman encourages amendments at committee to implement recommendations from the O'Shea report and to address gaps in the current law. He frames the removal of the three-day wait as an important, practical step toward respecting women’s autonomy in healthcare and repeats the campaign mantra: women won't wait.
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I'm pleased to be able to support this bill this evening on behalf of the Green Party and the Green Party were proud to campaign in support of repeal in 2018 and during that referendum campaign we worked with activists from all parties and none to share that central argument that Ireland needed to listen to women and to empower them to make their own decisions about their own bodies and the Irish people responded to that argument and they responded with compassion and particularly to the stories that were shared throughout that campaign I think collectively we work to bring a really historic change in our country and that work isn't yet complete and we need to continue to listen to women and to respect their right to choose on all aspects relating to their own health care and I reaffirm and I reiterate that term health care because the three-day waiting period that wasn't introduced as a health measure it was introduced as a as a political consideration and we know it's not a requirement that's required by principles of care it's not required by good by good clinical practice the World Health Organization had said very clearly that these waiting periods are unnecessary and of course the O'Shea report recommended its removal and in speaking on this bill tonight I should acknowledge that just a couple of weeks ago I was speaking in favor of another piece of legislation which also sought to remove the three-day waiting period and in addition that bill sought to address other issues that were highlighted in the O'Shea report and while tonight's bill is more narrow in its scope than I prefer it's important not to let perfection be the enemy of the good and to recognize that the removal of the three-day waiting itself is a positive step and I would be hopeful though that should this bill go to committee we would be able to look again at those other elements of the O'Shea report and indeed add elements to this bill via the amendment in particular around the issue of fatal fetal abnormalities and the current law in that area creates deeply traumatic circumstances that can put families and put women in incredibly difficult circumstances and those issues aren't addressed in tonight's bill and as I say I look to bring forward or support amendments if this bill moves through the House which I hope that it does but I look to support amendments that would actually address the issue of fatal fetal abnormalities. The referendum campaign in 2018 was won through a coalition that the repeal campaign forged and it was a prime example of the kind of progressive cooperation that we can see across political parties and indeed people who had had no prior political involvement and I hope on this particular matter tonight we see this cooperation extend to the government benches as well. I welcome the fact that a free vote is being permitted tonight. I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach has indicated that he's going to be supportive but we need that firm commitment from government and in particular from the Minister for Health that if there is a positive vote on this bill at second stage that we'll see the government engage seriously with this legislation and seriously with that central issue of the removal of the three-day wait and the government can demonstrate its seriousness by making sure that this bill is rapidly tabled at committee stage. In 2018 the rallying cry of the repeal campaign was women won't wait and women shouldn't have to wait in 2026 and we have the opportunity now to continue the work that was begun in 2018, remove a condescending, a paternalistic approach to an already difficult decision that many women in Ireland have to make.
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