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| Irish abortion referendum: Save the 8th campaign concedes defeat – live | Irish abortion referendum: Save the 8th campaign concedes defeat – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The leader of Ireland’s main Irish opposition party, Fianna Fail, has insisted his anti-abortion parliamentarians will “not stand in the way of the will of the Irish people” and block legislation leading to abortion at 12 weeks.. | |
| Micheal Martin gambled with his leadership by coming out in favour of a yes vote even though 32 of his Dail deputies were on the no side in the campaign. The RTÉ exit poll breakdown of political parties’ attitudes to the referendum also found that a small majority of Fianna Fail voters, 50.3%, backed the no camp in Friday’s poll. | |
| But speaking his native Cork City on Saturday morning, Martin said he believed that members of the Dail would have to “honour the will of the people” and allow for the passage of the government’s planned legislation. | |
| Martin said it was now clear from the two exit polls that Ireland had “emphatically passed” the referendum and that his party should back the Fine Gael-led government to legalise abortion. | |
| Roscommon, which was considered a bellwether for the “no” camp, has confounded all expectations with tallies currently showing a 57% victory for yes. MEP Luke Ming Flanagan, a former TD for the constituency said he always knew voters would come out in favour of repeal: “I always knew voters were not conservative – they are just a bit complicated.” | |
| Ireland’s health minister, Simon Harris, sums up for RTÉ Radio what the expected referendum result will mean for the successors of the tens of thousands of Irish women who have had to travel abroad for an abortion: | |
| "Instead of saying take the boat, we’re now saying take our hand and we will look after you." Minister for Health Simon Harris @SimonHarrisTD speaking on RTÉ radio. pic.twitter.com/gLpJIE0t3T | |
| The count began shortly after 9am and is now well under way, with ballots from the 40 constituencies being tallied at 26 centres around the country. | |
| At the same time, unofficial tallies – which give an accurate picture of the result, and are so far confirming the exit polls’ forecast of a landslide for yes – are being kept and released piecemeal through the day. | |
| First official results are expected from early afternoon, with local returning officers reporting their constituency results to the referendum returning officer who will will formally declare the national result at Dublin Castle when all 40 constituencies are in. | |
| In past referendums, according to the national broadcaster RTÉ, the overall result has been declared as early as 2.15pm, and as late as 7pm. | |
| More from the streets of Dublin from Sinéad Baker: | |
| The relief is palpable from those who were hoping for a yes victory. Signs are already been taken down at one Temple Bar shop, where manager Mark Ryan says the shop sold out of repeal mechanise before the vote. | |
| Yes materials are coming down. Mark Ryan, a manager at PhotoIreland Foundation, which acted as a vendor for #TogetherforYes, described his “relief” at the result. “It’s been an exhausting couple of months.” The shop had sold out of #repealthe8th merchandise in advance of #8thref. pic.twitter.com/qCdYAeGPe5 | |
| Andanappa Yalagi, the father of Savita Halappanavar, who died of sepsis in Galway in 2012 after being denied an abortion during a protracted miscarriage, said he was “very happy today”.Speaking to Harriet Sherwood by phone from his home in Karnataka, in south-west India, Yalagi said: | Andanappa Yalagi, the father of Savita Halappanavar, who died of sepsis in Galway in 2012 after being denied an abortion during a protracted miscarriage, said he was “very happy today”.Speaking to Harriet Sherwood by phone from his home in Karnataka, in south-west India, Yalagi said: |
| We’ve got justice for Savita. What happened to her will not happen to any other family. I have no words to express my gratitude to the people of Ireland at this historic moment. | We’ve got justice for Savita. What happened to her will not happen to any other family. I have no words to express my gratitude to the people of Ireland at this historic moment. |
| Halappanavar’s death galvanised the movement to repeal the eighth amendment. Prof Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, who chaired an official investigation into her death, called on voters this week to back the repeal, saying it tied doctors’ hands.She was 17 weeks pregnant when she died at the age of 31. | Halappanavar’s death galvanised the movement to repeal the eighth amendment. Prof Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, who chaired an official investigation into her death, called on voters this week to back the repeal, saying it tied doctors’ hands.She was 17 weeks pregnant when she died at the age of 31. |
| Sinéad Baker is out and about on the streets of Dublin, where the mood is “very positive”, she reports: | Sinéad Baker is out and about on the streets of Dublin, where the mood is “very positive”, she reports: |
| People are struggling to articulate exactly how they’re feeling, but relief seems to be the dominant emotion, particularly for those who have been campaigning for years. | People are struggling to articulate exactly how they’re feeling, but relief seems to be the dominant emotion, particularly for those who have been campaigning for years. |
| Sarah Brennan is celebrating in Temple Bar today with her sister and nephew. “I’ve been working towards this for quite a while,” she said. “It’s amazing. It shows that Ireland is moving on. Women don’t have to tell their stories anymore, and that’s important.” | Sarah Brennan is celebrating in Temple Bar today with her sister and nephew. “I’ve been working towards this for quite a while,” she said. “It’s amazing. It shows that Ireland is moving on. Women don’t have to tell their stories anymore, and that’s important.” |
| Sarah Brennan and her family stopped in front of the testimonies left by #8thref Yes voters in Temple Bar. “I’ve been working towards this for quite a while. It’s amazing. It shows that Ireland is moving on. Women don’t have to tell their stories anymore, and that’s important.” pic.twitter.com/uMyrbiDapD | Sarah Brennan and her family stopped in front of the testimonies left by #8thref Yes voters in Temple Bar. “I’ve been working towards this for quite a while. It’s amazing. It shows that Ireland is moving on. Women don’t have to tell their stories anymore, and that’s important.” pic.twitter.com/uMyrbiDapD |
| The eighth amendment – article 40.3.3 of the Irish constitution – will be replaced with a clause stating: “Provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy.” | The eighth amendment – article 40.3.3 of the Irish constitution – will be replaced with a clause stating: “Provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy.” |
| The Irish government is planning to bring legislation before the Dáil providing for abortion on request up to the 12th week of pregnancy with a three-day “cooling-off” period before abortion medication is administered. | |
| Between 12 and 24 weeks, abortion will only be available in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, a risk to a woman’s life or a risk of serious harm to the health of the mother. After 24 weeks, termination will be possible in cases of fatal foetal abnormality. | Between 12 and 24 weeks, abortion will only be available in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, a risk to a woman’s life or a risk of serious harm to the health of the mother. After 24 weeks, termination will be possible in cases of fatal foetal abnormality. |
| There will be provision for conscientious objection among medical practitioners, although doctors will be obliged to transfer care of the pregnant woman to another doctor. | There will be provision for conscientious objection among medical practitioners, although doctors will be obliged to transfer care of the pregnant woman to another doctor. |
| How does this compare to elsewhere? | How does this compare to elsewhere? |
| Most European countries allow abortion on request up to 12 weeks. Iceland permits it up to 16 weeks, Sweden 18 weeks and the Netherlands 22 weeks. | Most European countries allow abortion on request up to 12 weeks. Iceland permits it up to 16 weeks, Sweden 18 weeks and the Netherlands 22 weeks. |
| Abortion is banned in all circumstances in Malta, and in Poland and Cyprus it is only permitted in cases of grave risk to the health of the mother, fatal foetal abnormality, rape and incest. | Abortion is banned in all circumstances in Malta, and in Poland and Cyprus it is only permitted in cases of grave risk to the health of the mother, fatal foetal abnormality, rape and incest. |
| In the UK, abortions can be carried out up to 24 weeks with the agreement of two doctors. Abortions after 24 weeks are allowed only if the woman’s life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe abnormality. | In the UK, abortions can be carried out up to 24 weeks with the agreement of two doctors. Abortions after 24 weeks are allowed only if the woman’s life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe abnormality. |
| The conservative government of Poland, which already has one of the strictest abortion laws in Europe, has proposed tightening it further by banning abortion in cases of severe foetal disorders, including Down’s syndrome. | The conservative government of Poland, which already has one of the strictest abortion laws in Europe, has proposed tightening it further by banning abortion in cases of severe foetal disorders, including Down’s syndrome. |
| Several US states are also tightening access to abortion. Abortion is completely prohibited in El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and highly restricted in many other South American countries. | Several US states are also tightening access to abortion. Abortion is completely prohibited in El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and highly restricted in many other South American countries. |
| The projected yes victory looks like a foregone conclusion if social media mentions are anything to go by. | The projected yes victory looks like a foregone conclusion if social media mentions are anything to go by. |
| The online data analysts Meltwater crunched two days’ of social media conversations around the world on Thursday and Friday – the day of the referendum – and found the Repealthe8th hashtag was 11 times more popular than the no hashtag: | The online data analysts Meltwater crunched two days’ of social media conversations around the world on Thursday and Friday – the day of the referendum – and found the Repealthe8th hashtag was 11 times more popular than the no hashtag: |
| #RepealThe8th/#Repeal8th – total number of mentions: 335,373 | #RepealThe8th/#Repeal8th – total number of mentions: 335,373 |
| Trending themes: Ireland, women, abortion, abortion pill, sink, jail sentence, vote, #hometovote, freedom, jail sentence | Trending themes: Ireland, women, abortion, abortion pill, sink, jail sentence, vote, #hometovote, freedom, jail sentence |
| Geographical spread: UK, Ireland, US, Australia, Canada | Geographical spread: UK, Ireland, US, Australia, Canada |
| #SaveTheEighth/#savethe8th – total number of mentions: 30,450 | #SaveTheEighth/#savethe8th – total number of mentions: 30,450 |
| Trending themes: Ireland, life, abortion, human life, people, vote, amendment, pray, young Irish women, child | Trending themes: Ireland, life, abortion, human life, people, vote, amendment, pray, young Irish women, child |
| Geographical spread: US, Ireland, UK, Canada, Australia | Geographical spread: US, Ireland, UK, Canada, Australia |
| #HometoVote – total number of mentions: 192,142 | #HometoVote – total number of mentions: 192,142 |
| Trending themes: Ireland, today, women, abortion, Savita Halappanvar, pregnancy, doctors, sepsis, Dublin airport | Trending themes: Ireland, today, women, abortion, Savita Halappanvar, pregnancy, doctors, sepsis, Dublin airport |
| The international organisation that sponsored two Irish women who sued the government at the UN over being forced to have abortions abroad said the projected yes victory would give hope to women across the world today. | The international organisation that sponsored two Irish women who sued the government at the UN over being forced to have abortions abroad said the projected yes victory would give hope to women across the world today. |
| The New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights, which backed – among others – Amanda Mellet’s complaint to the UN, said the expected yes vote “would reverberate globally for years to come”. Leah Hoctor, the regional director for Europe at the CRR, said: | The New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights, which backed – among others – Amanda Mellet’s complaint to the UN, said the expected yes vote “would reverberate globally for years to come”. Leah Hoctor, the regional director for Europe at the CRR, said: |
| If the referendum passes it will mark a historic moment for the women of Ireland. Irish laws on abortion have long been among the most restrictive in the world and wholly out of step with legislation in almost every other European country … Women living in counties with highly restrictive abortion laws would have cause for hope that significant change can be achieved. | If the referendum passes it will mark a historic moment for the women of Ireland. Irish laws on abortion have long been among the most restrictive in the world and wholly out of step with legislation in almost every other European country … Women living in counties with highly restrictive abortion laws would have cause for hope that significant change can be achieved. |
| Save the 8th, which led the no campaign, has effectively conceded defeat, saying in a statement on its website that Irish voters have perpetrated “a tragedy of historic proportions”. | Save the 8th, which led the no campaign, has effectively conceded defeat, saying in a statement on its website that Irish voters have perpetrated “a tragedy of historic proportions”. |
| The 8th amendment did not create a right to life for the unborn child – it merely acknowledged that such a right exists, has always existed, and will always exist. | The 8th amendment did not create a right to life for the unborn child – it merely acknowledged that such a right exists, has always existed, and will always exist. |
| What Irish voters did yesterday is a tragedy of historic proportions. However, a wrong does not become right simply because a majority support it. | What Irish voters did yesterday is a tragedy of historic proportions. However, a wrong does not become right simply because a majority support it. |
| We are so proud of all of those who stood with us in this campaign: our supporters, our donors, our families and our loved ones. This campaign took a huge personal toll on all of us who were involved, and we have been so grateful for their support. | We are so proud of all of those who stood with us in this campaign: our supporters, our donors, our families and our loved ones. This campaign took a huge personal toll on all of us who were involved, and we have been so grateful for their support. |
| The unborn child no longer has a right to life recognised by the Irish state. Shortly, legislation will be introduced that will allow babies to be killed in our country. We will oppose that legislation. If and when abortion clinics are opened in Ireland, because of the inability of the government to keep their promise about a GP-led service, we will oppose that as well. Every time an unborn child has his or her life ended in Ireland, we will oppose that, and make our voices known. | The unborn child no longer has a right to life recognised by the Irish state. Shortly, legislation will be introduced that will allow babies to be killed in our country. We will oppose that legislation. If and when abortion clinics are opened in Ireland, because of the inability of the government to keep their promise about a GP-led service, we will oppose that as well. Every time an unborn child has his or her life ended in Ireland, we will oppose that, and make our voices known. |
| Abortion was wrong yesterday. It remains wrong today. The constitution has changed, but the facts have not. | Abortion was wrong yesterday. It remains wrong today. The constitution has changed, but the facts have not. |
| More pressure is being placed on Northern Ireland over its restrictive abortion law from Clare Murphy, the external affairs director at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service. | More pressure is being placed on Northern Ireland over its restrictive abortion law from Clare Murphy, the external affairs director at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service. |
| Ireland’s voters have shown that denying women the right to abortion services in their own country in 2018 is not acceptable, she said. | Ireland’s voters have shown that denying women the right to abortion services in their own country in 2018 is not acceptable, she said. |
| This is a momentous step forward that is long overdue. For decades, Irish women have been forced to travel hundreds of miles to our clinics in England, often alone, at a huge personal and emotional cost. | This is a momentous step forward that is long overdue. For decades, Irish women have been forced to travel hundreds of miles to our clinics in England, often alone, at a huge personal and emotional cost. |
| The result, once confirmed, means that the Irish government can bring an end to this suffering, and legislate to provide the care women need at home. Now more than ever it is time for the UK government to show the same respect for the women of Northern Ireland. | The result, once confirmed, means that the Irish government can bring an end to this suffering, and legislate to provide the care women need at home. Now more than ever it is time for the UK government to show the same respect for the women of Northern Ireland. |
| The Guardian’s Lisa O’Carroll is watching the count in Roscommon, traditionally one of Ireland’s most conservative counties, and reports that even there, the yes campaign looks to be doing well. | The Guardian’s Lisa O’Carroll is watching the count in Roscommon, traditionally one of Ireland’s most conservative counties, and reports that even there, the yes campaign looks to be doing well. |
| Plenty of yes campaigners with their “repeal” jumpers here at Roscommon count. Early stages here but so far all tallies I’ve spoken to have recorded a lead to “yes” apart from one rural area. One of 7 Ros town boxes was 201 to 146: another 156 “yes” to 125 another 91 to 91 pic.twitter.com/nl1Zxo20yS | Plenty of yes campaigners with their “repeal” jumpers here at Roscommon count. Early stages here but so far all tallies I’ve spoken to have recorded a lead to “yes” apart from one rural area. One of 7 Ros town boxes was 201 to 146: another 156 “yes” to 125 another 91 to 91 pic.twitter.com/nl1Zxo20yS |
| The Irish capital is expected to return one of the highest proportions of yes votes in the country. The Irish Times reports that with 23% of ballot boxes open in Dublin Bay South, 79% are for yes and 21% for no. Dublin Central has 46% of boxes open, with 76% in favour of repealing the eighth and 24% against. | The Irish capital is expected to return one of the highest proportions of yes votes in the country. The Irish Times reports that with 23% of ballot boxes open in Dublin Bay South, 79% are for yes and 21% for no. Dublin Central has 46% of boxes open, with 76% in favour of repealing the eighth and 24% against. |
| The detail of the RTÉ exit poll shows Ireland has profoundly changed its attitudes towards women, with most voters saying they had made up their minds to repeal abortion laws years ago, reports Lisa O’Carroll. | The detail of the RTÉ exit poll shows Ireland has profoundly changed its attitudes towards women, with most voters saying they had made up their minds to repeal abortion laws years ago, reports Lisa O’Carroll. |
| It showed little gender difference in voting, with only one in 10 saying they were influenced by posters or religion, and more than 75% saying they had not changed their mind on abortion in the past five years – suggesting support for reform far predated the announcement of a referendum two months ago. | It showed little gender difference in voting, with only one in 10 saying they were influenced by posters or religion, and more than 75% saying they had not changed their mind on abortion in the past five years – suggesting support for reform far predated the announcement of a referendum two months ago. |
| Colm O’Gorman, the head of Amnesty International in Ireland, which campaigned for a yes vote, said expectations had been that the count would be close, but attitude surveys it conducted in 2015 had shown deep changes in thinking on abortion. | Colm O’Gorman, the head of Amnesty International in Ireland, which campaigned for a yes vote, said expectations had been that the count would be close, but attitude surveys it conducted in 2015 had shown deep changes in thinking on abortion. |
| More than 80% said they had not changed their minds on how they were going to vote during the campaign, and more than three-quarters said they were influenced by personal stories they had heard in the media, or from people they knew. | More than 80% said they had not changed their minds on how they were going to vote during the campaign, and more than three-quarters said they were influenced by personal stories they had heard in the media, or from people they knew. |
| Eight percent said they were influenced by the death of Savita Halappanavar during complications in her pregnancy in Galway in 2015. | Eight percent said they were influenced by the death of Savita Halappanavar during complications in her pregnancy in Galway in 2015. |
| You can read Lisa’s full report here. | You can read Lisa’s full report here. |
| Last night’s Irish Times exit poll showed a whopping 87% of 18 to 24-year-olds supported a yes vote, reports Sinéad Baker. | Last night’s Irish Times exit poll showed a whopping 87% of 18 to 24-year-olds supported a yes vote, reports Sinéad Baker. |
| The president of the Union of Students in Ireland, Michael Kerrigan, who represents more than 374,000 students, said: | The president of the Union of Students in Ireland, Michael Kerrigan, who represents more than 374,000 students, said: |
| We are delighted, but not at all surprised by the reported turnout of young people. We had predicted earlier in the week that this would be the largest youth vote in the history of the state, with a large majority voting yes. This is an issue that has been debated on campuses since the mid-1970s and has really intensified in the last couple of years. The exit poll suggests this issue was not as divisive as reported and that repeal was supported across generations. | We are delighted, but not at all surprised by the reported turnout of young people. We had predicted earlier in the week that this would be the largest youth vote in the history of the state, with a large majority voting yes. This is an issue that has been debated on campuses since the mid-1970s and has really intensified in the last couple of years. The exit poll suggests this issue was not as divisive as reported and that repeal was supported across generations. |
| The union has been pushing for repeal of the eighth amendment for years, and has been a constant presence at marches and demonstrations. It directly registered more than 25,000 students to vote in the run-up to the referendum. | The union has been pushing for repeal of the eighth amendment for years, and has been a constant presence at marches and demonstrations. It directly registered more than 25,000 students to vote in the run-up to the referendum. |
| The idea that Ireland is a conservative country seems to be melting away. When it comes to referendums on social issues, Ireland has not voted for the conservative option since 1983. | The idea that Ireland is a conservative country seems to be melting away. When it comes to referendums on social issues, Ireland has not voted for the conservative option since 1983. |
| Over that time, both the rural/urban divide and the generation gap have slowly closed. When the country voted in favour of permitting divorce in 1995, it did so by 9,000 votes and only five constituencies outside Dublin voted in favour. | Over that time, both the rural/urban divide and the generation gap have slowly closed. When the country voted in favour of permitting divorce in 1995, it did so by 9,000 votes and only five constituencies outside Dublin voted in favour. |
| In the 2015 plebiscite on same-sex marriage, the rural/urban divide vanished, and cross-generational support was clear – and it looks like this is the case again in 2018. | In the 2015 plebiscite on same-sex marriage, the rural/urban divide vanished, and cross-generational support was clear – and it looks like this is the case again in 2018. |
| The expected result in the Irish referendum is likely to put significant pressure on politicians in Northern Ireland to review its highly restrictive regime, reports Harriet Sherwood. | The expected result in the Irish referendum is likely to put significant pressure on politicians in Northern Ireland to review its highly restrictive regime, reports Harriet Sherwood. |
| If the repeal of the eighth amendment is confirmed and followed by legislation to permit abortion on request up to the 12th week of pregnancy, Northern Ireland will be the only place in the UK and Ireland – and most of Europe – where terminations are outlawed except for the most exceptional circumstances. | If the repeal of the eighth amendment is confirmed and followed by legislation to permit abortion on request up to the 12th week of pregnancy, Northern Ireland will be the only place in the UK and Ireland – and most of Europe – where terminations are outlawed except for the most exceptional circumstances. |
| UK politicians acknowledged that Northern Ireland would come under the spotlight as the exit polls landed. Penny Mordaunt, the international development secretary, who also holds the equalities brief, tweeted: | UK politicians acknowledged that Northern Ireland would come under the spotlight as the exit polls landed. Penny Mordaunt, the international development secretary, who also holds the equalities brief, tweeted: |
| Based on the exit poll, a historic & great day for Ireland, & a hopeful one for Northern Ireland. That hope must be met. #HomeToVote stories are a powerful and moving testimony as to why this had to happen and that understanding & empathy exists between generations. #trustwomen | Based on the exit poll, a historic & great day for Ireland, & a hopeful one for Northern Ireland. That hope must be met. #HomeToVote stories are a powerful and moving testimony as to why this had to happen and that understanding & empathy exists between generations. #trustwomen |
| And Owen Smith, the former shadow Northern Ireland secretary, had this to say: | And Owen Smith, the former shadow Northern Ireland secretary, had this to say: |
| Wonderful news, if true. And a powerful message to Northern Ireland. We need change across the whole island of Ireland. https://t.co/VTTdPmlUDj | Wonderful news, if true. And a powerful message to Northern Ireland. We need change across the whole island of Ireland. https://t.co/VTTdPmlUDj |
| You can read Harriet’s full story here. | You can read Harriet’s full story here. |