The reason Ireland has to change its constitution for this to become law, is that it was formed with the catholic church embedded in it. This was altered for the good friday agreement to take place but much of it remains. This a great step forward but lets not forget how many women have suffered in Ireland because of its laws and attitude. Back street abortions, traveling to the UK alone at what is a very stressful time or the farming out of babies like my ex`s mum who was brought up by someone she thought was her mum but really her aunt on her her dads side

It's so reassuring to see that the rest of the world isn't going backwards with us.

My political science professor said a national referendum is possible in the US, due to the founding fathers giving us the "right to petition" the government. We have it here in CA--we vote on Propositions that are identified by numbers. Some examples of ones that have passed are a ban on trophy hunting of mountain lions, the establishment of a state lottery, & making battery cages for hens illegal.

If all of the energy put into the tug of war over abortion were instead put toward ending unintended pregnancies, I suspect we'd be a lot further along.

Land if the free won't allow ordinary citizens that level of freedom

Getting rid of the Electoral College or gun control. Hell, let's do both!

I honestly never thought the day would come that IRELAND would look like a liberal paradise for women compared to these, our United States. Well done, Irish folk. Well done.

Ireland has voted to move into the twenty first century.
Here we have the over bearing right wing trying to drag the US back into the dark ages.
I do not like to ge political here, but if we do not remove the republicans, our nation, which is already in trouble, will be destroyed.

I read that euthanasia will be coming up soon in Ireland.

It sends a message to Christianity that they cannot control a womens body or tell her what to do. Imagine what men would do if they were told by the government or their church that they had to cut off one of their balls when they reached a certain age. Religion discriminates against women that it isn't even funny.

In order for that to work, the majority of Americans would have to actually participate in the process.