This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23277590
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ireland's parliament approves 'life-saving' abortion | Ireland's parliament approves 'life-saving' abortion |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Lawmakers in the Republic of Ireland have voted to legalise abortion under certain conditions for the first time, following a marathon debate. | Lawmakers in the Republic of Ireland have voted to legalise abortion under certain conditions for the first time, following a marathon debate. |
| In a 127-31 vote in the Dail, they backed allowing a termination when doctors deem that a woman is at risk of taking her own life. | |
| The debate revealed deep splits in the predominantly Catholic country. | The debate revealed deep splits in the predominantly Catholic country. |
| Opponents say the bill - which still needs the upper house's approval - could lead to more widespread abortion. | Opponents say the bill - which still needs the upper house's approval - could lead to more widespread abortion. |
| Anti-abortion campaigners say that the bill will allow the intentional killing of the unborn for the first time in the Republic of Ireland. | Anti-abortion campaigners say that the bill will allow the intentional killing of the unborn for the first time in the Republic of Ireland. |
| For them, it is not just a religious but a human rights issue as they believe that in any pregnancy the mother and foetus have equal rights to life. | For them, it is not just a religious but a human rights issue as they believe that in any pregnancy the mother and foetus have equal rights to life. |
| Others argue the bill is too limited as it does not allow for terminations in cases of rape or incest, or when there is a foetal abnormality. | |
| Nor does it allow for termination when the foetus cannot survive outside the womb. | |
| Uncertainty | Uncertainty |
| Members of parliament (TDs) backed the proposal shortly after midnight on Friday - after two hotly debated sessions. | |
| Still, those who support access to abortion say the bill ignores the fact that, on average, 11 women leave the country every day for an abortion in Britain. | Still, those who support access to abortion say the bill ignores the fact that, on average, 11 women leave the country every day for an abortion in Britain. |
| Since a Supreme Court ruling in 1992, known as the X case, abortion has been constitutionally available when a woman's life, as distinct from her health, is at risk from the continued pregnancy. | Since a Supreme Court ruling in 1992, known as the X case, abortion has been constitutionally available when a woman's life, as distinct from her health, is at risk from the continued pregnancy. |
| X was a suicidal 14-year-old schoolgirl who had been raped by a neighbour and was initially prevented from leaving the country for an abortion in Britain. | X was a suicidal 14-year-old schoolgirl who had been raped by a neighbour and was initially prevented from leaving the country for an abortion in Britain. |
| Since then, the credible threat of suicide is, constitutionally, regarded as grounds for a termination. | Since then, the credible threat of suicide is, constitutionally, regarded as grounds for a termination. |
| But in the intervening years, until now, no government has introduced legislation to give doctors legal certainty on when an abortion can be carried out. | But in the intervening years, until now, no government has introduced legislation to give doctors legal certainty on when an abortion can be carried out. |
| Failures | |
| And that uncertainty provided part of the context for the Savita Halappanavar case. | And that uncertainty provided part of the context for the Savita Halappanavar case. |
| She was a 31-year-old Indian dentist who was admitted to hospital in Galway in October 2012 while miscarrying. | She was a 31-year-old Indian dentist who was admitted to hospital in Galway in October 2012 while miscarrying. |
| She died a week later from septicaemia. | She died a week later from septicaemia. |
| Her request for an abortion was turned down. | Her request for an abortion was turned down. |
| Her inquest heard that she could not get a termination at the time because her life was not in danger but, by the time her life was at risk, an abortion would have been too late to save her. | Her inquest heard that she could not get a termination at the time because her life was not in danger but, by the time her life was at risk, an abortion would have been too late to save her. |
| The Fine Gael-Labour coalition government says its proposed legislation will bring the law and constitution into line. | The Fine Gael-Labour coalition government says its proposed legislation will bring the law and constitution into line. |