Hundreds of abortions have been carried out after 12 weeks’ with no legal upper gestational limit, it has been revealed.
A total of 575 abortions were performed after the 12 week point, under section 11 of Ireland’s abortion law, since 2019, the Department of Health said.
The statistic was released in response to a Parliamentary Question by Offaly TD Carol Nolan. However, the Department of Health said it does not collect data on the specific conditions or gestation of each pregnancy that is terminated under section 11 of the abortion act.
The abortions were performed under Section 11 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. There is no upper gestational age limit under the section, meaning that abortions can be carried out “at any stage of pregnancy, right up to birth,” Deputy Nolan highlighted on Friday.
As part of her reply to Deputy Nolan, the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill admitted that the Department of Health does not collect data on the specific conditions involved or the precise gestation at which these abortions are carried out.
“These 575 abortions were all performed after 12 weeks’ gestation, with no legal upper limit. However, the Government’s refusal, or apparent lack of interest in recording the specific conditions or the exact stage of pregnancy at which these procedures take place is indefensible,” said Deputy Nolan.
“We are dealing with the deliberate ending of 575 human lives, in situations where so-called ‘fatal anomalies’ can be incorrectly diagnosed, many of them in the second and third trimesters,” the TD added.
“We saw this most clearly in the case of Baby Christopher Kiely who was tragically and incorrectly certified as having a condition likely to be fatal before or shortly after birth.”
“This tragic misdiagnosis also highlights the human cost of a system that permits late-term abortions. It also speaks yet again to the absolutely urgent need to deliver wrap-around life-affirming supports for women and families facing these situations.”
Deputy Nolan also referenced the Social Democrats’ failed Bill to remove the three-day wait between abortion consultations. The Bill, which would also have removed the rule that two medical practitioners must approve an abortion in the case where the unborn baby is expected to have a life-limiting condition, was defeated by 35 votes to 80.
“It is also important to note that the recent Social Democrats’ Bill sought to further weaken the limited safeguards in Section 11 by removing the requirement for both certifying doctors to personally examine the woman,” added Ms Nolan. “These attempts to hollow out even basic protections must be continually resisted.”
The Government this week flagged “difficulties” with the Social Democrats’ failed abortion Bill – with Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill warning that some provisions would be “problematic” for legal and operational reasons, amid warnings of “unintended consequences.”