Irish President Michael Higgins signed into law a bill that legalizes abortions in Ireland for the first time.
The “Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act” will allow abortions when the life of the mother is in danger due to the pregnancy. However, there is a provision that will allow a woman to have an abortion if she can convince doctors that she will commit suicide unless she can kill her baby via abortion. Continue reading
Protesters carrying signs that read “Kill the bill! Not the child!” marched through Dublin, Ireland on Saturday to demand the government stop plans to legalize abortions in select cases.
The demonstrators marched for two hours through the capital city to the parliament building where legislators next week are expected to pass the bill. Speakers from the protesters demanded the government put the matter to a national referendum. Continue reading
The Irish Parliament gave overwhelming first approval to a bill that would allow limited abortion.
The bill passed 138-24 to go to a second reading. The bill’s passage is the first in a three-step process before becoming law. Continue reading
The Republic of Ireland has reported that in the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013 a decline in business and services. The two consecutive declines means the economy is officially back in recession.
Preliminary estimates show the country’s GDP was down .6% in the first quarter of 2013. Continue reading
British Prime Minister David Cameron held a press conference just before the G8 summit in Northern Ireland to announce a groundbreaking trade deal between the European Union and United States.
Cameron called the deal the “biggest bilateral trade deal in history” and said that a successful agreement would have more impact on world finance than all other world trade deals put together. Continue reading
A Brazilian man living in Ireland has become the country’s first reported case of leprosy in modern times.
The man had first contracted leprosy in Brazil 10 years ago and is likely suffering a recurrence of the disease. Continue reading
The International Monetary Fund has released an assessment critical of Ireland’s actions after receiving bailout funds.
The report says that Irish banks have made “inadequate progress” due to non-performing loans and not dealing well with tackling home repossessions. The IMF said it’s likely the banks are still losing money before putting aside funds to cover bad loans. Continue reading
Members of the Legislative Assembly in Northern Ireland are debating an amendment that would ban abortions at private clinics in the nation.
The amendment is being attached to a criminal justice bill.
Opponents of the measure say the bill will keep women from being able to obtain abortions as prescribed by current law but the author of the bill says those claims have no basis. Continue reading
Abortion proponents have seized upon the death of a 31-year-old woman after a miscarriage to bully Irish legislators into expanding abortion.
The government announced today it will bow to the wishes of those activists and put laws in place to legislate for abortion where “the mother’s life is at risk.” Continue reading
A private group is opening the first abortion clinic in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland is not governed under the UK’s Abortion Law and the group will only be able to provide abortion services during the first nine weeks of pregnancy to comply with the country’s abortion laws.
Anti-abortion groups are calling for the group’s clinic to not be allowed to open. Continue reading
