(Independent) – A bill to legalize abortion services in Ireland has passed all stages in the Seanad (Irish Senate). On Thursday, The Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2018 was passed by 27 votes to five following a nine-hour debate. It will now be given to President Michael D Higgins to be signed into law. The legislation follows the vote to repeal the Eighth Amendment which banned abortion in a referendum in
May by 66.4 percent. The change in law will now allow for abortion services to be provided up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, where there is a risk of fatal fetal abnormality and the risk to life or health of the pregnant woman, compared to 24 weeks under abortion laws in the UK. During the debate, Health Minister Simon Harris rejected all 63 amendments submitted. READ MORE
