SINN FÉIN President Mary Lou McDonald TD has welcomed the result of the Abortion Referendum, calling it a ‘momentous day’ for Ireland.
The country voted overwhelmingly today to repeal the Eighth Amendment, with 66.4 per cent backing the decision to permit unrestricted abortion up to 12 weeks.
Sinn Féin policy was in favour of repeal, but only to allow for abortion in cases of rape, incest, fatal foetal abnormalities and where the health of the mother is at risk.
However McDonald, who urged the electorate to vote Yes, welcomed today’s resuls as a sign of a ‘new and better Ireland'.
Speaking from Dublin Castle, where the result was announced this evening, McDonald said: “This is a momentous day for all the people of Ireland.
''Old certainties challenged'
“Ireland is changing. The old certainties are being challenged, and a new and better Ireland is emerging.
“It is a day when those who had been silenced demanded to be heard. A day when we decisively broke from the past.
“A day when the people said, ‘This is our time, this is our Ireland’.
“I want to thank all those who campaigned, and in particular the women who spoke publicly about private tragedies in order to make this country a better place for all.
“My thoughts today are with all those who have suffered and those who have died, as a result of an amendment that should never have been in the constitution.
"My solidarity goes out to them and their families.”
She added: “Let’s work together to ensure that this is the first step in creating a better, fairer, and more caring Ireland.”
