Committee recommends legalising terminations without restrictions up to 12 weeks

TDs and Senators on the cross-party committee voted 14 to 6 to recommend that the amendment - which gives equal status to the life of the mother and her unborn baby - be removed from the constitution.

The TDs and Senators that voted in favour of repeal were:

Lisa Chambers TD (FF) , Clare Daly TD (I4C) , Bernard Durkan TD (FG) , Billy Kelleher TD (FF) , Catherine Murphy TD (Soc Dem), Jonathan O’Brien TD (SF) , Kate O’Connell TD (FG), Louise O’Reilly TD (SF), Jan O’Sullivan TD (Lab), Brid Smith TD (Sol-PBP), Sen. Jerry Buttimer (FG), Sen. Paul Gavan (SF) , Sen. Ned O’Sullivan (FF)  and Sen. Lynn Ruane (Ind)

Those who opposed were:

James Brown TD (FF), Peter Fitzpatrick TD (FG), Mattie McGrath TD (Ind), Hildegarde Naughton TD (FG), Anne Rabbitte TD (FF) and Sen. Ronan Mullen (Ind).

Chairperson Catherine Noone abstained from the vote.

The committee today was also tasked with voting on future scenarios that may be put in place in relation to abortion, if the Eighth Amendment is ultimately removed from the constitution by the people as a result of a referendum.

The committee voted in favour of a proposal to allow terminations without restrictions as to reason up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy.

This was on the back of a Fianna Fáil proposal which highlighted the complexity of legislating for cases of rape and incest.

Earlier, The Committee has voted in favour of a proposal that recommends that the termination of pregnancy would be lawful where the life or health of the woman is at risk and that a distinction should not be drawn between physical and mental health.

In terms of the gestation time limit where such terminations would be permitted, it would be determined by best medical practice which would be decided upon by no fewer than two specialist doctors.

The Committee also voted in favour of a series or reasons where terminations would be permitted as recommended by the Citizens' Assembly earlier this year including a risk to life, risk to life by suicide, and risk to physical and mental health.

The committee rejected a proposal from Senator Lynn Ruane where socio-economic reasons were permissible for abortion after 12 weeks.

Ms Ruane said it would support women who suffer from  addiction, poverty, domestic violence and prostitution and the termination would take place in accordance with best practice.

It also rejected access to abortion without reason for up to 22 weeks gestation with 4 in favour and 17 against.

The committee also voted in favour of decriminalising abortion for women who procure terminations - that "she may not be guilty of a criminal offence".

However, the committee voted to say that abortions can only take place in licensed premises or hospitals or through the legal procurement of abortion pills.

They are to draw up a report which will be presented to the Dáil for debate ahead of a referendum that is proposed to take place next year.

Earlier, speaking in the Dáil Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he would like for a referendum on the abortion issue to be held in May.

He said for this to happen, the Government will require the full support of the House.

Speaking on RTÉ's Six One News Senator Noone said the committee was "difficult" to chair due to the divisive nature of the issue.

She warned debated would intensify as a referendum nears and urged for respectful debate.

"I think that we need to be very respectful of people's views going forward," she said.

Ms Noone also added that the Oireachtas should be "proud" that it is looking at the issue.

News of today's vote has been met with divided reaction.

Midwives for Choice and maternity campaign group AIMS Ireland welcomed the recommendation in a joint statement.

Chair of Midwives for Choice, Philomena Canning, said she hopes the government will "step up" following the recommendation.

"We now hope that the government will step up to its responsibility to ensure the human rights of all pregnant women are protected by calling on the people of Ireland to repeal the Eighth Amendment," she said.

The National Women's Council of Ireland also welcomed the recommendation this evening.

Spokesperson for the Pro-Life campaign Sinead Slattery told RTÉ's Drive Time that "without the Eighth Amendment we are dividing society into two".

"It's really disappointing that throughout this process... never once have they considered other supports for women," she said.

Earlier, Minister for Health Simon Harris said he was in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment.

He told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that legislation will need to be brought to the Dáil in February if a referendum is to be held before next summer.