#583 Does the 3-Day Wait Still Make Sense?

In this episode, Niall sits down with Eilís Mulroy for an in-depth conversation about one of the most contentious aspects of Ireland’s abortion legislation: the mandatory three-day waiting period. Drawing on new data from the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA), Niall and Eilís unpack the organisation’s findings that there is “no scientific support” for imposing a delay on anyone seeking abortion care.

They explore the IFPA’s 2024 report, which shows that 98% of clients proceeded with an abortion after the waiting period, undermining claims from anti-choice groups that the delay changes minds in significant numbers. Eilís discusses how these findings align with international medical guidance—including recommendations from the World Health Organisation and the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, both of which have criticised mandatory delays.

Together, they examine how the waiting period contributes to stress, stigma, and practical hardship for pregnant people—impacting confidentiality, work, childcare, transport, and those suffering severe pregnancy sickness. They also look at how the measure frames women as incapable of making autonomous healthcare decisions, despite established medical ethics around informed consent.

This thoughtful and timely conversation explores what the data really shows, why experts want the waiting period made optional, and what the future of reproductive healthcare in Ireland could look like.