Ireland looks on course today to have voted overwhelmingly to change the constitution to enable liberalisation of the country's strict abortion laws.
As counting began this morning with the result expected later this evening, one exit poll commissioned from Ipsos/MRBI by The Irish Times indicated a vote of 68 per cent to 32 per cent for repeal of the 8th amendment, which recognises the equal right to life of a mother and her unborn child. A second poll for RTÉ by Behaviour and Attitudes showed a slightly larger majority of 69 per cent to 31 per cent.
A record 3.3 million people registered, the largest number ever to register for a vote in Ireland. The RTÉ poll found Fianna Fáil supporters were the only ones to change, but there the exit poll findings of 49.7 per cent for yes and 50.3 per cent for no was too close to be certain that this will be reflected in the final count.
Yes campaigner Ailbhe Smyth said on RTÉ TV: "We are truly stunned and deeply relieved." She added: "It is this huge recognition of women, that women absolutely matter."
Michael Healy Rae, who was against change, told RTÉ radio that the people had spoken: "We live in a democracy and people voted the way they did. Now it's over to the legislators, we will have to look at exactly what the minister brings to the Dáil."
Among those taking to social media to record their response was David Gibson, a Catholic convert and director of Fordham's Centre on Religion and Culture, who tweeted: "Those expressing shock, shock I say, at the Irish abortion referendum outcome must not have been paying much attention to Ireland or Irish Catholicism over the last, say, 30-40 years."
Former Tablet editor Catherine Pepinster added: "Yes, and ignoring the loss of influence of church teaching on sexual ethics due to shocking church record on abuse of children, both sexual and physical."
Chris Hazzard, Sinn Féin MP for South Down, tweeted: "It appears we have #RepealedThe8th. Thinking tonight of the many generations of Irish women who were failed by Irish men, institutions, and society - the future belongs to MnáNahEiréann [women of Ireland]."
The Irish Family Planning Association called for quick action to implement the results.
The Chair of Cork Together for Yes, Kathy D’Arcy, told The Irish Times that she welcomed the results of both exit polls which she said confirmed the feedback from canvassers.
“We’re optimistic about the results of this exit poll, but we’re not particularly surprised as it is in line with the feedback we received on the doors throughout the city and county. Obviously an exit poll is simply an indication of the results, so we are waiting until the all-important final count comes in," she told the paper.
The LoveBoth campaign lamented the “bleak picture for retention of the Eighth Amendment”, describing the polls results, if borne out by the final count, as "a sea-change on abortion in Ireland".
Yes or No: Lorna Donlon visits Ireland in advance of yesterday's referendum
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