On Wednesday evening, 37 TDs voted against the Government’s blocking amendment and in favour of ensuring that unborn babies are given pain relief before late term abortions.

The list of TDs who opposed the Government's blocking amendment includes: 15 Fianna Fáil TDs, 4 Fine Gael TDs, 17 Independent TDs and 1 Aontú TD.

While the overall result was not what we wanted, the foetal pain bill received almost twice as many votes as a similarly worded amendment got in the immediate aftermath of the 2018 abortion referendum. So, by any measure, a clear improvement on where we were just three years ago. And as Carol Nolan TD pointed out on Wednesday, if there had been a straight up vote in the Dáil without the Government’s blocking amendment, it’s even possible that a majority of TDs would have backed the bill this week.

It was a strange few days in Leinster House in the lead up to the vote. There were lots of anxious whispered conversations between TDs as they figured out what stance to take.

Thanks to the sponsors of the foetal pain relief bill, TDs were forced to confront the reality that late-term abortions are happening, and that the present law is so brutal and extreme it doesn’t even provide for merciful pain relief to be given to an unborn baby before his or her life is ended.

The momentum in the Dáil is definitely growing for unborn babies to be given precautionary pain relief before late term abortions. It’s going to take a little longer but the efforts of pro-life supporters over the past week were certainly not in vain.  

And once again, our wonderful pro-life TDs delivered. Everyone who voted the right way on Wednesday evening deserves our thanks and congratulations. Please take a few moments to thank the TDs who voted in favour of this measure.  You can read more about the Bill and find a list of the TDs who voted to support it here.

There are lots of other issues we need to focus on as well as providing foetal pain relief. But it’s also important to take heed of what happened in the Dáil on Wednesday as we approach year’s end. In spite of the various stunts pulled by the Government this week, the pro-life side didn’t flinch or falter. 

We have reason to enter the New Year filled with renewed hope and optimism about what can be achieved in 2022.

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