Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that abortion in the Republic would not be unrestricted if Irish citizens vote to liberalise laws relating to the termination of pregnancy in next week's referendum.
"It won't be unrestricted and it won't be on demand," Mr Varadkar said. "No woman who is experiencing crisis pregnancy will be able to go into the pharmacy and bang the table and demand abortion pills. Not that I think anyone would ever do that."
He said a number of restrictions were planned including a requirement that women have to see a doctor and wait 72 hours before making the decision.
Hundreds of white crucifixes have appeared on roadsides into Letterkenny overnight. Not clear who is behind it but a fair assumption would be that they are related to next week’s referendum... pic.twitter.com/g7Yk8mm1TV
— Conor Sharkey (@ConorSharkeySC) May 18, 2018
He added that the doctor will also have to confirm that the pregnancy is less than 12 weeks.
Mr Varadkar was speaking on RTE Radio One about the upcoming referendum.
Leo Varadkar has said it is only a matter of time before a woman dies in the Republic due to using abortion pills bought over the internet.
Donegal County Council are removing the crosses where they present a danger to motorists or pedestrians
— Greg Hughes (@GregHughes2) May 18, 2018
Mr Varadkar said women are buying abortion pills online and some of them are using them unsafely.
"It's only a matter of time before somebody loses their life as a result of taking one of those pills over the internet. It has happened in other countries," the Taoiseach said.
Some in Donegal who are Pro choice have taken a different view of the crosses pic.twitter.com/qnhWfkaiMB
— Greg Hughes (@GregHughes2) May 18, 2018
He asked people to bear that in mind when they vote.
"Let's not wait for this to happen and if there is a no vote on Friday I think it's only a matter of time before somebody haemorrhages or bleeds to death or dies as a result of using these pills unregulated," Mr Varadkar said.