It’s the first annual report to be published since the grounds on which termination of pregnancy is lawfully permitted were expanded in Ireland.
There were 6,666 terminations of pregnancy carried out in Ireland last year under legislation enacted following the repeal of the Eighth Amendment.
Official figures released by the Department of Health show that the vast majority (6,542) of these terminations took place in early pregnancy, meaning under 12 weeks.
100 of the abortions were carried out due to a condition that would likely lead to the death of the foetus.
In the case of 12 abortions, there was a risk to the life or health of the mother, while in three cases there was a risk to the life or health of the mother in an emergency.
The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (“the Act of 2018”) was passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas on 13 December 2018 and signed into law by the President on 20 December 2018.
The new Act repealed the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 and the Regulation of Information (Services Outside the State for Termination of Pregnancies) Act 1995.
The expanded service for termination of pregnancy under the Act of 2018 was introduced on 1 January 2019.
The new abortion services allow for termination to be carried out where there is a risk to the life or health of the pregnant woman, in cases of fatal foetal abnormality and without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Tuesday’s report was presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas and is the first annual report to be published since the grounds on which termination of pregnancy is lawfully permitted were expanded in Ireland.
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