Dáil Rejects Motion to Restore Abortion Decriminalisation Bill by Narrow Margin
Dáil Éireann has voted by a narrow margin not to restore a private member’s Bill that would have amended Ireland’s abortion law to decriminalise the procedure and abolish the mandatory three-day waiting period. The vote came late on Wednesday evening and was decided 73 to 71 against restoration of the legislation.
The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) (Amendment) Bill 2023 originally sought to overhaul parts of the current framework governing abortion in Ireland, including:
abolishing the three-day waiting period,
fully decriminalising abortion provision, and
expanding grounds for access in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities and serious maternal health risk.
The Bill had previously progressed through second stage in the last Dáil, passing by a narrow vote before that Dáil was dissolved ahead of the general election.
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How TDs Voted
Among those who supported restoring the Bill were Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Minister for Defence Helen McEntee.
However, a number of senior Government and party figures voted against the proposal, including:
Minister for Expenditure Jack Chambers — who voted no in the 2018 abortion referendum,
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan,
Fianna Fáil TDs including Mary Butler (Government Chief Whip), Albert Dolan, John Connolly, Martin Daly, Cathal Crowe, Seán Fleming, and Aindrias Moynihan,
Fianna Fáil Ministers of State Niall Collins TD and Charlie McConalogue,
Ministers Michael Moynihan and Niamh Smyth,
Fine Gael Ministers Alan Dillon, Martin Heydon, and Patrick O’Donovan.
Several Independent TDs also opposed the motion, including Seán Canney, Marian Harkin, Mattie McGrath, Danny Healy-Rae, Carol Nolan, Paul Gogarty, Michael Lowry, Gillian Toole, and Minister Michael Healy-Rae.
Fine Gael Minister Emer Higgins abstained.
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Dáil Debate and Calls for Conscience Voting
After the result was announced, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy sought a roll-call vote, emphasising the importance of the issue and urging colleagues to reflect on their positions.
“Given the importance of the matter — women’s health and restoring a Bill already passed by the last Dáil — I’m asking that we vote by means other than electronic,” Murphy said during the sitting.
He appealed directly to TDs, asking them “to look at their consciences or even shift from a no or abstaining.” Murphy also referenced other private members’ Bills earlier in the session, noting similar political dynamics around free votes.
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What Happens Next
Because the motion to restore the Bill failed, the legislation will not automatically re-enter the legislative process in this Dáil session. The current law — including the three-day waiting period established under the existing Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 — therefore remains in place.
Proponents of reform, however, insist the issue remains active and will likely resurface as pressure continues from advocacy groups and some Oireachtas members.
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— Aaron Joyce, L.T.T Media
— L.T.T Media Newsdesk
18 December 2025
