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New Zealand grants automatic paid leave after miscarriage

The bereavement allowance gives employees three days’ leave when a pregnancy ends with a stillbirth.

WORKING MOTHERS AND and their partners will be allowed to take paid leave after suffering a miscarriage or stillbirth in New Zealand after a unanimous vote by lawmakers, in what is believed to be one of the first provisions of its type in the world.

The bereavement allowance, passed by parliament late Wednesday, gives employees three days’ leave when a pregnancy ends with a stillbirth, rather than forcing them to use their sick leave.

Lawmaker Ginny Andersen said a stillbirth should be recognised with dedicated bereavement leave but the stigma that surrounds the issue meant many people were reluctant to discuss it.

“The grief that comes with miscarriage is not a sickness; it is a loss, and that loss takes time – time to recover physically and time to recover mentally,” she told parliament.

Andersen said the leave extends to a woman’s partner if she suffers a miscarriage, as well as to people who were attempting to have a child through surrogacy.

She said the law continued the New Zealand parliament’s role in pioneering women’s rights, most notably on voting rights and equal pay.

“I can only hope that while we may be one of the first, we will not be one of the last, and that other countries will also begin to legislate for a compassionate and fair leave system that recognises the pain and the grief that comes from miscarriage and stillbirth,” she said.

Ireland currently gives full maternity leave to women who have a stillbirth or miscarriage after the 24th week of pregnancy, but any other leave is at the discretion of an employer. 

Labour is putting forward a Bill which would allow up to 20 days of paid leave for early miscarriages and up to 10 days of leave for employees to access reproductive health treatments such as IVF. 

Senator Ivana Bacik, the party’s spokesperon on children and equality, said that Ireland should follow New Zealand’s example and increase the support available to women who go through a miscarriage. 

“For too long, women who have suffered the pain of an early miscarriage are forced to return to work or take unpaid leave whilst trying to recover physically and emotionally,” she said.  “This is not a niche issue; as many as 14,000 women in Ireland suffer a miscarriage each year.”

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    Mute Daithi O'hEimhin
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    Mar 25th 2021, 9:33 AM

    Seems to be the place to live at the moment.

    720
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    Mute Dearbhla O Reilly
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    Mar 25th 2021, 10:05 AM

    @Daithi O’hEimhin: that and Iceland. Funny that.

    86
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    Mute Eamon Morris
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    Mar 25th 2021, 10:34 AM

    @Daithi O’hEimhin: Off you go then.

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    Mute Brendan Cooney
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    Mar 25th 2021, 10:50 AM

    @Eamon Morris: why? Why not change things here in ireland to follow their lead.

    175
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    Mute JusticeForJoe
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    Mar 25th 2021, 11:49 AM

    @Brendan Cooney: No. We prefer to keep things as bad as they are in so many ways here and instead just abuse the people who point them out, telling them to leave.

    I don’t want to be that country but if I object I’ll just be asked to leave.

    75
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    Mute Seamus
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    Mar 25th 2021, 11:55 AM

    @JusticeForJoe: atleast they didn’t tell u to back to where u came from.

    16
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    Mute JC
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    Mar 25th 2021, 12:10 PM

    @Eamon Morris: I bet you complained about young people ‘abandoning’ us in after 2008 too yeah? You should live abroad for a while, its eye opening.

    39
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    Mute Brendan Greene
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    Mar 25th 2021, 12:35 PM

    @Brendan Cooney: there are swings and roundabouts. They have a even worse housing/rental situation than us. Their beautiful landscape is marred by massive pollution by intensive farming.

    11
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    Mute Mary Nugent
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    Mar 25th 2021, 1:00 PM

    @Brendan Cooney: they keep saying they will follow New Zealand.

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    Mute
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    Mar 25th 2021, 9:36 AM

    A wonderful compassionate measure. People who robustly oppose socialism fail to see that unpredictable and awful things can happen to anyone, and we all need to be supported when these happen. We’re not all rich. We’re not all going to sail through life. A system that supports all is a compassionate system. A system that pays the majority as little as they can legally get away with to inflate the paychecks of a few is devoid of compassion. Rant over. Yay socialism.

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    Mute family guy
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    Mar 25th 2021, 10:46 AM

    I hate socialism. It does more harm than good. I don’t want the state to hold my hand. I want them to look after things beyond my control. I’ll look after myself and my family and they look after the country.

    84
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    Mute DJ François
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    Mar 25th 2021, 10:51 AM

    @family guy: So you don’t use the state provided health service, education or roads?

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    Mute Tony Humphreys
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    Mar 25th 2021, 11:02 AM

    @family guy: I hate socialism too, but this is not socialism, it is very short and limited for a time when the worker will probably not have their mind on the job. I think this is a good move and needed.

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    Mute Anne Busher Collins
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    Mar 25th 2021, 11:09 AM

    @family guy: oh well there you go……

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    Mute Diarmuid Hunt
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    Mar 25th 2021, 11:09 AM

    @Tony Humphreys: It is a socialistic policy not a capitalistic policy. If you like this policy then you like some aspects of socialism.

    58
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    Mute Paul Kelly
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    Mar 25th 2021, 11:15 AM

    @family guy: Bit like the US or Haiti?

    10
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    Mute Donal McCarthy
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    Mar 25th 2021, 11:59 AM

    @Diarmuid Hunt: That makes any sort of tax and spend policy ‘a socialistic policy’. Making this good idea into an argument about socialism vs capitalism is silly. You can dislike socialism and still support this idea without being inconsistent.

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    Mute family guy
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    Mar 25th 2021, 1:11 PM

    @DJ François: which is all paid for by my road tax, VRT, PAYE, PRSI, USC, VAT, tax on tax on tax in this country. I ain’t getting something for nothing.

    13
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    Mute Will
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    Mar 25th 2021, 1:27 PM

    @: “People who robustly oppose socialism”

    This is not socialism, it is a social safety net or social welfare that would not be possible without the capitalist system that funds it.
    Socialism and social welfare are not the same thing.
    Look at the Nordic states, often held up as beacons of progressive social policy (and they are largely so IMO). They are still capitalist countries.

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    Mute ▪️
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    Mar 25th 2021, 1:30 PM

    @family guy: If you got seriously ill and had to take very expensive medicines, the government would pay. They could pay far more per year than you’ve ever paid for VAT, PAYE or anything else in your entire life, combined.

    None of us are above that happening to us. I am in favour of a safety net if it did, and you should be too. Let’s be clear – you wouldn’t have paid anywhere near the full cost for the treatment you’d be getting and you never would, and that’s ok.

    23
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    Mute Vanessa
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    Mar 25th 2021, 2:34 PM

    @family guy: Should it be possible to pay taxes with the disclaimer to pay less to exclude you from the stuff you need but aren’t important to me?

    Of course not. People should care for another.

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    Mute Geraldine O'Riordan
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    Mar 25th 2021, 9:38 AM

    A very sensitive topic but as I read it from checking here in Ireland do we not already have it…

    “Stillbirths and miscarriages

    If you have a stillbirth or miscarriage any time after the 24th week of pregnancy, you are entitled to full maternity leave. This means you can take the basic 26 weeks’ maternity leave and 16 weeks’ additional maternity leave.
    28 Sep 2020″

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    Mute John O'Flynn
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    Mar 25th 2021, 9:45 AM

    @Geraldine O’Riordan: They are referring to miscarriages before 24 weeks.

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    Mute Aine O Connor
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    Mar 25th 2021, 3:41 PM

    @Geraldine O’Riordan: What is not clear to me is that , does New Zealand give maternity leave of 26 weeks for stillbirths after 24-26 weeks or just 3days as for miscarriages. If not Ireland is way better .

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    Mute Hugh Mc Donnell
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    Mar 25th 2021, 9:41 AM

    They seem to have a leader that can lead and make sensible decisions, we’d probably need a committee, a supreme Court case plenty of of lobbying before it’s done here

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    Mute Denise Ní Cinnseala
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    Mar 25th 2021, 9:39 AM

    Only 3 days? And which is it-miscarriage or stillbirth? As women in Ireland are entitled to full maternity leave in the even of a stillbirth. We get nothing for early miscarriages, which is just wrong. A loss is a loss, regardless of when it occurs

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    Mute Danny Sherrard
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    Mar 25th 2021, 11:09 AM

    @Denise Ní Cinnseala: absolutely spot on.

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    Mute Brendan Harlowe
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    Mar 25th 2021, 11:13 AM

    @Denise Ní Cinnseala: but a GP would sign you off sick/unable to work .

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    Mute Cecilia Doyle
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    Mar 25th 2021, 2:09 PM

    @Brendan Harlowe: unpaid and many cannot afford to take unpaid leave.

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    Mute Denise Ní Cinnseala
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    Mar 25th 2021, 2:16 PM

    @Brendan Harlowe: can you afford to take unpaid time off? The first 7 days are completely unpaid. If someone is still not capable of work after one week, they they have to apply to social welfare for help, with can take ages. Added to that, not many people feel up to dealing with paperwork and numerous people following the loss of their baby

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    Mute Debbie Behan
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    Mar 25th 2021, 4:34 PM

    @Brendan Harlowe: but why should she need to take sick leave? A woman is not sick after a miscarriage. She’s grieving. As is the Dad. Being forced to take unpaid, or even paid, sick leave in these circumstances just perpetuates the culture in our society that miscarriage and infant loss, as sad and devastating as it is, should be covered up as something else and not talked about. Acknowledgement for what it is, and providing compassionate support for both mothers and fathers suffering these types of loss is a significant step. Well done New Zealand.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 25th 2021, 8:05 PM

    @Denise Ní Cinnseala: Its not the same, sorry if that sounds heartless. Of course a miscarraige is devastating, but to carry a baby to full term, deliver baby and for baby to be not living, thats so much worse. My mothers first daughter, who she named Denise, was a stillborn. She was born three years before me. Right up until mam died, she still would talk about her. She never got over it. She also had miscarriages.

    5
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    Mute Paul Dolan
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    Mar 25th 2021, 9:48 AM

    A lot of New Zealanders respect their leader due to how she shows example unlike the muppets we have

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    Mute Wadi
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    Mar 25th 2021, 9:40 AM

    These guys really are showing up the rest of the world for what they are. agree would appear to be the place to live for all demographics

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    Mute Honeybee
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    Mar 25th 2021, 10:09 AM

    Any woman who has given birth or suffered a mis carraige or still birth requires more than three days to come to terms with the loss of her child and to deal with the physical and mental recovery. The burial of her baby in an angels plot can take up to a week, particularly if genetic testing is required, we need to be more understanding.

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    Mute Sequoia
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    Mar 25th 2021, 11:10 AM

    @Honeybee:

    Not just the mother. Everyone always forgets about the father in the case of miscarriage. It’s just as much a loss to them.

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    Mute Honeybee
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    Mar 25th 2021, 3:30 PM

    @Sequoia: I couldn’t agree more, too hard to comment , sleep softly angel babies 2018.

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    Mute Valentine Kane
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    Mar 25th 2021, 10:33 AM

    We could learn a lot from that government

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    Mute Liz O'Neill
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    Mar 25th 2021, 10:19 AM

    Surely, there are very few GPs out there that wouldn’t sign a person off for a couple of weeks (male or female) if they are struggling to come to terms with such a traumatic event.
    One would, presumably, need to obtain a doctors certificate anyway. There’d need to be evidence to prove that a miscarriage had taken place before the leave would be granted.

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    Mute Aine O Connor
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    Mar 25th 2021, 10:24 AM

    @Liz O’Neill: I think the whole point is that this 3 days is extra leave so as not to use up ordinary sick leave.

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    Mute Siofra Cronin
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    Mar 25th 2021, 1:27 PM

    @Liz O’Neill: If a cert is required I imagine men will be able to submit their partner’s cert rather than paying to go to the doctor themselves. Having a policy for it will encourage more men avail of the leave

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    Mute Aine O Connor
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    Mar 25th 2021, 10:08 AM

    Does that mean then that a woman who has an abortion is entitled to the leave also. Same loss.

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    Mute Ajax Penumbra
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    Mar 25th 2021, 10:31 AM

    @Aine O Connor: I can’t see why not. If not, it absolutely should do.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 25th 2021, 8:10 PM

    @Aine O Connor: I am pro choice, but i cant see it as being the same at all. Choosing a termination is not as upsetting as losing a child you wanted and planned. There is no way that loss is the same.

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    Mute Rebecca Keyes
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    Mar 25th 2021, 9:43 AM

    Three days after losing your baby? That’s shocking.

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    Mute Dearbhla O Reilly
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    Mar 25th 2021, 10:06 AM

    @Rebecca Keyes: I would say that just a starting point. Will be increased maybe? Like these things usually are.

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    Mute Louise Fleming
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    Mar 25th 2021, 11:01 AM

    @Rebecca Keyes: three days is a fairly standard compassionate leave. Pretty sure that’s what you get for losing any member of your family spouse, child, parent etc depending on the relative you might only get one day. You can extend it using other leave – sick leave, annual leave, unpaid leave etc but the compassionate leave only covers the initial 3 days.

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    Mute Rebecca Keyes
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    Mar 25th 2021, 12:25 PM

    @Dearbhla O Reilly: Yeah you’d hope so anyway

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    Mute Rebecca Keyes
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    Mar 25th 2021, 12:25 PM

    @Louise Fleming: You’re right there , it just seems so short.

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    Mute Joe Soap
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    Mar 25th 2021, 11:55 AM

    Actually jealous of the kiwis, cos their government seem to be as sound as.

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    Mute Anna Long
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    Mar 25th 2021, 2:37 PM

    If you wish to move to NZ from Ireland and have a child with Down Syndrome, that child can NOT get a visa because of its Disabilities
    A termination is also available at 40weeks if a child has Down Syndrome

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    Mute Aine O Connor
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    Mar 25th 2021, 3:49 PM

    @Anna Long: This is gross inhumane treatment against Downs Syndrome babies.

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    Mute Anna Long
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    Mar 25th 2021, 4:26 PM

    @Aine O Connor: i only heard about this today and am sick to my stomach, how on earth is this happening in the world

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    Mute Teresa O'Halloran
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    Mar 25th 2021, 5:08 PM

    @Anna Long: well yes, New Zealand have the most Liberal abortion laws in the world. Abortion at full term if you are not happy with the sex of your baby.

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    Mute Boksburg Girl
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    Mar 25th 2021, 5:38 PM

    @Teresa O’Halloran: where did you read that?? According to the Abortion Legislation Act, 2020: Section 10: A qualified health practitioner may provide abortion services to a woman who is not more than 20 weeks pregnant.
    Section 11: After 20 weeks, a health practitioner can only provide abortion services to a woman if it is deemed clinically appropriate and if they consult at least one other qualified practitioner.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 25th 2021, 8:17 PM

    @Anna Long: Thats a disgrace. I am pro choice but do not under any circumstances agree with the termination of a fully formed baby at 40 weeks for the sole reason of Downs Syndrome. And the visa is pure discrimination. What kind of life do Downs Syndrome people have in the so called progressive liberal NZ? country sounds like a backwards hole if you ask me.

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    Mute Jjohn Cconway
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    Mar 26th 2021, 11:12 AM

    @Teresa O’Halloran: have you a link to the legislation that allows this?

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    Mute Trevor W
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    Mar 25th 2021, 12:51 PM

    The most progressive leader in the world right now. Making a show of everyone else. Unreal.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 25th 2021, 8:22 PM

    @Trevor W: How so? by giving women three days paid leave? big deal. If a womans suffers greatly or has a mental breakdown over the loss of her unborn or stillborn child, 3 days is nothing. Occupational Health will have to sign her off for months. This woman is so overrated. Downs Syndrome children completely discriminated against. People praise her leadership during Covid, the country has only had about 20 lockdowns to keep their numbers low. As soon as cases rise by like 3, shes locking down again.

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    Mute Jjohn Cconway
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    Mar 26th 2021, 11:08 AM

    @Pauline Gallagher: 26 deaths and 2479 cases. One full lockdown for 6 weeks this time last year. How’s Ireland doing?

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    Mute Cat Reid
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    Mar 25th 2021, 1:01 PM

    Women in power!

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    Mute Patrick Geraghty
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    Mar 25th 2021, 10:23 PM

    Incredible

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