'The public have spoken': Ireland's PM says country has voted 'resoundingly' for allowing abortion in historic referendum

Ireland has voted 'resoundingly' in favour of overhauling its abortion laws in a historic referendum.

The final result was announced on Saturday evening with the Yes campaign winning 66.4 per cent of the votes, and No getting 33.6 per cent.

Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the country is united and voted "resoundingly" in favour of yes in the abortion referendum.

Voters' ballots were counted on Saturday on whether to change Ireland's Eighth Amendment which makes abortions illegal except where the mother's life is at risk.

As the count was underway, pro-life leaders conceded defeat in the vote after exit polls predicted almost 70 per cent of people said Yes to repealing the law.

The first constituency to declare was Galway East, in Ireland's west with 60.19% for Yes and 39.81% for No.

Ireland abortion referendum - In pictures

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Mr Varadkar said Ireland was united - with men and women, nearly every age group and every social class opting for reform in Friday's referendum.

Repeal campaigners smile as votes are counted in Ireland's referendum on abortion
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He campaigned for the change, which he said represented the compassionate choice for women forced to travel to England for terminations or taking unregulated abortion pills.

He said: "The public have spoken, the result appears to be resounding in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment, possibly to carry every constituency in the country."

Women cheer at a vote count in Dublin
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He said the results represented "the culmination of a quiet revolution", one that had been taking place in Ireland for the past 10 to 20 years.

Counting under way as exit polls suggest landslide in abortion referendum

"The people have spoken," Mr Varadkar said.

"The people have said that we want a modern constitution for a modern country, that we trust women and we respect them to make the right decision and the right choices about their healthcare."

An official oversees the count in the historic referendum
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With polling data suggesting seven out of 10 voters backed reform, campaigners in favour suggested it meant a moment of profound change - when the nation had collectively stood up for women and their healthcare.

The vote saw citizens effectively opt to either retain or repeal the Eighth Amendment of the state's constitution, which prohibits terminations unless a mother's life is in danger.

Earlier, 'No' campaigners conceded defeat.

A mural in Dublin's city centre by art group Subset calling for 'Repeal The 8th'
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The Save the 8th campaign, who wanted the existing ban on abortion in Ireland to remain in place, conceded defeat as counting was underway.

In a statement, Save the 8th communications director John McGuirk said: "The unborn child no longer has a right to life recognised by the Irish state. Shortly, legislation will be introduced that will allow babies to be killed in our country. We will oppose that legislation."

"If and when abortion clinics are opened in Ireland, because of the inability of the Government to keep their promise about a GP led service, we will oppose that as well.

Ireland PM Leo Varadkar casts his vote in Dublin
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"Every time an unborn child has his or her life ended in Ireland, we will oppose that, and make our voices known."

Earlier an exit poll by national broadcaster RTE suggested almost 70% of the electorate sided with the Yes camp.

Another poll by The Irish Times recorded 68% in favour of ending the country's all but blanket ban on terminations.

The formal result is due later this afternoon.

A mother pushes a pram past a placard for the NO campaign in Dublin
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Both exit surveys recorded support for the Yes camp at approaching 90% among 18 to 24-year-olds.

By contrast, the over-65 group was the only age bracket to vote No, with around 60% wanting to retain the Eighth Amendment.

Urban areas appear to have been more strongly in favour of repeal, at just over 70%.

But according to the polls, rural areas also voted Yes, with around 60 to 63% in favour.

Voters make their way to and from a polling station situated at St Anne's national school in Dublin
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Dublin had the highest Yes vote of around 78%.

Ireland's deputy premier, Tanaiste Simon Coveney said the referendum had made him "proud to be Irish"

"Thank you to everybody who voted today - democracy can be so powerful on days like today - looks like a stunning result that will bring about a fundamental change for the better," he tweeted late on Friday night.

A voter leaves a polling station in Dublin
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Health minister Simon Harris tweeted: "Will sleep tonight in the hope of waking up to a country that is more compassionate, more caring and more respectful."

The leader of the Alliance Party in Northern Ireland, Naomi Long, said it appeared to be an "incredible result for #together4yes #repealthe8th".

She tweeted: "Eyes will now turn to us: yet again a place apart. Behind GB. Behind Ireland."

UK Minister for Women and Equalities Penny Mordaunt said it was a "historic & great day for Ireland, & a hopeful one for Northern Ireland".

Prominent No campaigner Cora Sherlock expressed disappointment at the polls.

"Exit polls, if accurate, paint a very sad state of affairs tonight," she tweeted late on Friday.

"But those who voted No should take heart. Abortion on demand would deal Ireland a tragic blow but the pro-life movement will rise to any challenge it faces. Let's go into tomorrow with this in mind."

Thousands of Irish citizens living overseas travelled home in droves to exercise their democratic right on the emotive issue.

The vote saw citizens effectively opt to either retain or repeal the Eighth Amendment of the state's constitution, which prohibits terminations unless a mother's life is in danger.

The specific question people were asked was whether they wanted to see the Eighth Amendment replaced with wording in the constitution that would hand politicians the responsibility to set future laws on abortion, unhindered by constitutional strictures.

Ministers have promised to allow terminations within the first 12 weeks, subject to medical advice and a cooling-off period, and between 12 and 24 weeks in exceptional circumstances.

The liberalisation campaign gathered momentum in 2012 after an Indian dentist, Savita Halappanavar, died in hospital in Galway aged 31 when she was refused an abortion during a miscarriage.

Her husband, Praveen Halappanavar, said she repeatedly asked for a termination but was refused because there was a foetal heartbeat.

In 2013, following an outcry over Mrs Halappanavar's death, legislation was amended to allow terminations under certain tightly restricted circumstances - the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act.

When doctors felt a woman's life was at risk due to complications from the pregnancy, or from suicide, they were permitted to carry out an abortion.

Under pressure from the UN about alleged degrading treatment of women who travelled to England for terminations, the Irish Government began exploring the possibility of further reform, culminating in the calling of Friday's referendum and the promise to legislate.