There's no medical or legal reason for a three-day wait period to access abortion services.
That's according to Barrister Marie O'Shea who carried out an independent review of Ireland's termination laws, who recommends it should be optional.
Head of the review into termination of pregnancy legislatoin Marie O'Shea speaking to TDs and Senators at the Oireachtas Health Committee. Credit: Oireachtas.The Oireachtas Health Committee is looking at whether the current laws need to be changed - five years on from when the Repeal referendum gave TDs and Senators the power to make laws.
Head of the review Marie O'Shea said the implementation of the laws has been more complicated than could've been foreseen during the referendum:
"66.4% of those who voted in favor of Repeal of the eighth Amendment were people who would've been influenced by the scope of the proposed regulations.
"They may hold genuine fear that the recommendations contained in the report represent the start of a creep towards a progressive termination of pregnancy regime.
"I want to assure this committee that that is not the purpose of the recommendations."
Marie O'Shea also raised concerns about the availability of services around the country.
Last week the Tánaiste Micheal Martin told the Dáil 11 of the 19 maternity hospitals in the state are providing abortion services.
