Press Statement
Wednesday, 16th September 2026
IFPA urges Oireachtas Health Committee to support the bill to remove the three-day mandatory waiting period for access to abortion
Data supports removal of a demeaning legal barrier to abortion care access, which has no scientific basis or healthcare rationale, says IFPA CEO
As the health committee meets today (Wednesday, September 16th) to deliberate on a bill to remove the mandatory waiting period, the IFPA, a leading provider of reproductive healthcare, has released a five-year study of the operation of the mandatory three-day waiting period in practice.
Speaking ahead of the committee session, Chief Executive of the Irish Family Planning Association, Niall Behan, said: “For the fifth successive year, our statistics confirm a clear and consistent finding: the vast majority of clients who attend an initial consultation go on to have an abortion (98%).
“Our data insights are in line with the views and experiences of leading medical experts, and of the World Health Organisation, that a mandatory waiting period before abortion care is unjustifiable, demeaning and patronising.
“There is nothing in our data to indicate that the enforced three-day wait influences decisions about pregnancy.”
The IFPA dataset is based on a robust analysis of anonymised abortion service data from our clinics. Non-identifiable abortion client data from our electronic charting system is input into a secure Excel file. Any anomalies are manually checked by authorised clinic personnel.
Mr Behan said, “As a leading provider of early abortion care, the IFPA knows that mandatory waiting periods before abortion provide no health-benefits, but can cause undue anxiety, distress and delay to those forced to endure them. Weekends, public holidays and required secondary referrals can extend this delay and cause some clients to require hospital treatment or travel abroad to access care. This is unacceptable.”
Concluding his remarks, Niall Behan said: “We urge the members of the health committee to consider the IFPA’s detailed and comprehensive observations on the mandatory waiting period, which we provided at the committee’s request in August.
“It is time for the Oireachtas to remove this demeaning provision, which has no scientific basis, is against good practice guidance of the World Health Organization and delays pregnant people from access to abortion care with no health-related rationale.”
Ends
Press Contact: Erin Murphy, Communications Officer (086) 795 2167, or email press@ifpa.ie.
Notes to Editor
Resources
IFPA’s September 2026 cumulative 5-year anonymised clinic data on the operation of the mandatory waiting period in practice: https://www.ifpa.ie/app/uploads/2026/09/IFPA-Mandatory-Waiting-Period-Study-5-year-data-September-2026.pdf
IFPA’s observations on the mandatory waiting period, as requested by the health committee:
https://www.ifpa.ie/app/uploads/2026/09/IFPA-observations-to-the-health-committee-August-2026.pdf
Abortion Services in Ireland
- Abortion in Ireland is regulated by the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. A woman or pregnant person can have an abortion for any pregnancy that is less than 12 weeks. The decision is theirs and they do not have to explain their reasons to anyone.
- Early medical abortion care can be accessed from a providing GP, family planning clinic or women’s health centre up to 9 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy. After 9 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy, HSE guidance is that people should be referred by their doctor to have their abortion in a hospital.
- Those accessing abortion under 12 weeks of pregnancy are required to attend two doctors’ appointments. Between the first and second appointment, there is a three-day waiting period. This is imposed by law and cannot be waived.
- After 12 weeks, abortion is only accessible when there is (1) a risk of serious harm to the health or life of the pregnant person, or (2) there is a condition likely to lead to the death of the foetus either before birth or within 28 days of birth (commonly referred to as a fatal foetal anomaly).
About the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA)
- The IFPA is a leading provider of abortion care in Ireland, with clinics in Tallaght and Cathal Brugha Street.
- The IFPA offers non-directive and non-judgemental specialist pregnancy counselling to all our abortion care clients. This can be a particular support during the stress and anxiety that some people experience throughout the mandatory waiting period. As a pro-choice organisation, the IFPA supports people whatever their decision, whether this is abortion, parenting or adoption.
- Abortion care and specialist pregnancy counselling services are free to residents of Ireland and are funded by the HSE.