The abortion bill has passed all stages in the Dáil.
Deputies extended their sitting until midnight in order to vote on the last of more than 60 proposed amendments.
And that’s it. The Dáil approves the bill to allow abortions to happen in Ireland. It now goes to the Seanad for final approval #legisl8 pic.twitter.com/HKHIAOrNGu
— Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) December 5, 2018
The legislation now goes back to the Seanad, and is expected to be signed into law before the end of the year.
Commenting after the vote, Health Minister Simon Harris said he was thinking of "all the women who have had to travel to receive care - we say, no more".
Tonight Dáil Éireann has passed legislation to legalise abortion in Ireland. On to the Seanad now. I think of all the women who have had to travel to receive care - we say, no more. The people have spoken. Care and compassion in our own country
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) December 6, 2018
Several TDs welcomed the vote, with Ruth Coppinger saying it comes after years of campaigning:
Right to choose legislation has passed all stages in the Dáil. Final vote 90 for, 15 against, 12 abstentions. This Bill was made possible by years of campaign work by young people, women and working class people fighting for change. #legisl8 #dubw #RepealedThe8th
— Ruth Coppinger TD (@RuthCoppingerTD) December 6, 2018
Gone to the Seanad. Thank you all so much for your lovely messages and for supporting #repealthe8th -we now move on to the next stage to #Legisl8 for @freesafelegal for all the women who have, who shouldn’t have had to, and who won’t need to travel in the future. 💕 pic.twitter.com/7WLkkybauD
— Kate O'Connell TD (@campaignforkate) December 6, 2018
Debate
The final vote tonight followed two weeks of debates, as deputies worked through the dozens of amendments.
There had been lengthy delays as TDs debated the issues - with the subject of conscientious objection dominating discussion in the Chamber this evening.
This evening's debate was less than three minutes old when the Dáil was suspended after repeated complaints from TD Mattie McGrath.
So this afternoon's abortion debate has started with the Dáil being suspended because of repeated complaints from Mattie McGrath #legisl8
— Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) December 5, 2018
When business resumed, Deputy McGrath denied he was trying to hold up and delay the abortion legislation
He claimed: "We didn't put any amendments to be frolicky, or to be silly, or to be cruel or to be hapless.
"All the empathy and sympathy is not on the other side - we're doing what we're elected to do."
Another anti-abortion, Deputy Peadar Tóibín, claimed it wasn't them holding up the bill.
He suggested: "I asked two people to carry out a word count with regards to the contributions from the pro-choice side and the pro-life side.
"The pro-choice side has said 50,000 words so far, the pro-life said 45,000 words so far. The pro-choice are filibustering their own bill, which is incredible."
An initial 11pm deadline was extended to midnight, and TDs finally signed off on the legislation at around that time.
