Sofian Khan: Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has announced of a new abortion law which will be in place by the end of 2018. It is followed by a landslide vote in favour of repealing the Republic of Ireland’s constitutional ban on abortion.
With the new law in place, abortions during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy will be allowed with another extended 12 weeks in exceptional circumstances.
Irish Minister for Health Simon Harris will seek the cabinet’s backing on Tuesday to draft the new legislation.
Mr Varadkar said Saturday would be remembered as the day Ireland “embraced our responsibilities as citizens and as a country”. “The day Ireland stepped out from under the last of our shadows and into the light,” he added.
“The day we came of age as a country. The day we took our place among the nations of the world.”
Over two thirds of the voters backed the decision of changing the law with every constituency.