Stephen Donnelly
Question:143. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the preparations being put in place by his Department and the HSE for the introduction of pregnancy termination services. [40458/18]
View answerThursday, 4 October 2018
Questions (143, 144, 146, 147)
Stephen Donnelly
Question:144. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of officials in his Department who have been assigned to oversee the introduction of pregnancy termination services. [40459/18]
View answerStephen Donnelly
Question:146. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the additional funding being provided to ensure the timely introduction of pregnancy termination services. [40461/18]
View answerStephen Donnelly
Question:147. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the consultation that has taken place with professional representative bodies with regard to the introduction of pregnancy termination services. [40462/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 143, 144, 146 and 147 together.
Government approved the text of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018 on the 27 September.
The Bill was published on the Houses of the Oireachtas website on 1 October and it is due to come before the Dáil this week.
I have previously confirmed that it is a priority for Government to have a medically delivered, safe and regulated service for the termination of pregnancy for all those who require it, based on the huge mandate that the Irish people have given for this work.
Officials from units across my Department are working to support the introduction of Termination of Pregnancy Services.
My Department has also been working with the HSE to ensure the introduction of services to provide access to termination of pregnancy in line with my intention to commence the services by January 2019.
Yesterday I met with key stakeholders, including the Medical Colleges, to discuss the Bill and the operation of the service for termination of pregnancy.
The development of clinical guidelines on termination of pregnancy is the responsibility of the professional groups concerned.