The decision of the Dáil to endorse the Sinn Féin bill to end the three-day wait before a woman can secure a termination in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy marks the latest evolution in Ireland’s long and often difficult engagement with women’s reproductive and abortion rights.The episode also shows how the politics of abortion have evolved. Those who witnessed the bitter debates on the issue in 1983, in 1992, in 2002, in 2014 and – at times – in 2018 would have been surprised at the mostly empathetic tone of the debate this week. The removal of the party whip by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael has much to do with this; Sinn Féin should follow suit. But the moderation of this week’s debate is also because, as a society, Ireland has developed the ability to talk about such matters without the acrimony of previous years.There is a long way to go yet with the legislation. It has passed the first hurdle only in the Dáil and the Government has indicated that it may seek to make amendments at committee stage; the Seanad will also have its say. But it is now likely that the three-day wait will be abolished.Opponents of the measure complain that the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution in 2018 was only passed after the government of the day published draft legislation, which included the three day wait, which it promised to enact once the constitutional ban was gone. They say, correctly, that this was what was in people’s minds as they considered the question of repeal then. Indeed, it was precisely to reassure voters – many of whom had previously been wary about an excessively liberal regime – that the draft legislation was published.But no parliament can bind the hands of its successors. Legislators may well take this concern into account, but fundamentally their responsibility is to make laws they believe best serve the Ireland of today. Those laws should respect the autonomy of women’s decision-making about their own bodies.