Ireland’s legislature has defeated a bill to liberalize its abortion law. A private member’s bill by Socialist Party TD Clare Daly, the Medical Treatment Bill, which would have legalized abortion in cases concerning the mother’s life and would criminalize pro-life sidewalk counseling – imposing fines and up to one year in prison- was defeated by a vote of 111 to 20 in the Dáil Éireann. The legislation sought to implement the ruling of the 1992 Supreme Court ruling, known as the X case, which ruled abortion should be permitted in circumstances where there is a risk to the mother’s life, including threats of suicide.  Ireland, which has one of the world’s lowest rates of maternal mortality, has demonstrated that pro-life laws and adequate care for pregnant women save lives. Caroline Simmons of the Pro-Life Campaign said, “Today's result vindicates the work done by the highly professional medical staff who provide world class care to Irish mothers… As Government ministers pointed out during the debate, Ireland has an exceptional record in respect of maternal healthcare. UN data repeatedly shows that we are world leaders in caring for pregnant women. For TDs to be scaremongering about this, instead of celebrating the achievement of our medical profession is shameful and irresponsible.” The Irish government will again be considering its abortion law as its Expert Group addresses concerns raised by the European Court of Human Rights this June.