Finally Repealed: Ireland’s 8th Amendment and Women’s Reproductive Rights

This paper considers the events in Ireland that led to repeal of the 8th Amendment to the Constitution and the enactment in 2018 of legislation legalising abortion. The paper provides some insight into the public discourses in Irish society that paved the way for these developments. The paper considers reactions in Irish society to the new legislation and the impact of it. The First Annual Report on the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, required under the Act, covering the time period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019, details that, in that year, 6,666 terminations took place. This paper considers the publication of this report and responses to it. The report and the responses to it evidence attitudes generally in Irish society to the new legislation and the fundamental change in public health policy provided for and protected by it. This paper considers the changes in Irish society and culture evident in these developments. The paper reflects on the actions and events that provided the impetus for the changes. Finally, the paper considers lessons learned in terms of women’s lives and experiences, their health, safety and well-being.