Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2015
18. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his views on the investigation into the Miss Y case; and whether the Government will consider a review of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, and legislation around the termination of pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8040/15]
View answerAs the Deputy might be aware, last August the HSE initiated a review to establish all of the facts surrounding the care given to Ms Y. However, Ms Y's legal team has now successfully applied to the Courts for a Judicial Review of this review and I will await the outcome of this judicial review before I decide whether any further action needs to be taken.
In relation to legislation around the termination of pregnancy, the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 was enacted in July 2013 and commenced in January 2014. The purpose of this Act is to restate the general prohibition on abortion in Ireland while regulating access to lawful termination of pregnancy in accordance with the X case and the judgment in the European Court of Human Rights in the A, B and C v Ireland case. The Act received very careful consideration by the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Health and Children, including three days of public hearings.
I am not proposing any amendments to the Act or the 8th Amendment of the Constitution at present.
