Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 May 1993

Vol. 430 No. 2

Written Answers. - Pregnancy Counselling.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

86 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Health if, following the outcome of the November 1992 Referendum, he will give details of the steps, if any, he now intends to take to ensure the availability of comprehensive non-directive information for women with crisis pregnancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Nora Owen

Question:

88 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health the progress, if any, which has been made in the preparation of legislation to implement the referendum on freedom of information on abortion; and the structures, if any, he is putting in place so that the necessary agencies will be available to give this necessary information and counselling.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 88 together.

Work is progressing on the drafting of legislation to regulate the availability of information on abortion services available outside the State, and I expect to be in a position to bring a Bill before the Oireachtas in the autumn. A specific requirement in the Bill will be that information provided by persons or agencies to a pregnant woman who seeks advice concerning her specific circumstances, if it includes information on abortion, must be given in the context of non-directive counselling on the full range of options available.