We just learned that the Health (Abolition of Three Day Wait Rule) (Amendment) Bill 2026 will be introduced in the Dáil this Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Now is the time to contact your TDs and ask them to support this bill. We have put together the below text for you to use. Be sure to include the deputy’s name and your own. Feel free to use it to email, write, or call your TDs. If your TD is pro-choice, tell them they have your support. If they’re not, explain to them that abortion access is important to you as their constituent. TDs are more likely to be contacted by the anti-choice side, which skews their perception of public opinion. Make sure your pro-choice voice is heard!
Dear Deputy [Name],
On Tuesday next week you will be asked to vote on the Health (Abolition of Three Day Wait Rule) (Amendment) Bill 2026 introduced by Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane. As my TD, I am asking you to please support this legislation.
The review of the current legislation commissioned by the government (O’Shea Report April 2023) highlighted the ways the legislation currently fails to support pregnant people, with the 3 day wait causing numerous issues. This Bill seeks to address one of those shortcomings.
The World Health Organisation recognises waiting periods as a barrier to safe abortion access and states that, “mandatory waiting periods can have the effect of delaying care, which can jeopardise women’s ability to access safe, legal abortion services and demeans women as competent decision-makers.”
When I, and many others, voted to Repeal the Eighth we did so to provide compassionate care at home and to stop women being forced to travel.
But the reality is pregnant people are still being forced to travel, still facing barriers, and still struggling to access compassionate healthcare at home.
The longer we wait to address the shortcomings of the current legislation, the more people will be forced into difficult circumstances and forced to seek healthcare abroad.
Women have waited too long already. We can’t make them wait any longer.
