Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2020
265. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if the three-day waiting period with respect to termination of pregnancy services remains in place; if there are no plans to amend or abolish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27743/20]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Section 12 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 provides that a termination of pregnancy may be provided after a period of not less than three days has elapsed from the date on which a medical practitioner has certified that the pregnancy concerned has not exceeded 12 weeks of pregnancy.
No changes have been made to the legislation since it was signed into law by the President in December 2018.
Section 7 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 states:
“The Minister shall, not later than 3 years after the commencement of this section, carry out a review of the operation of this Act.”
The review clause was included in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 in order to facilitate monitoring of the operation of the legislation in practice, as well as of the delivery of services in the area.
The Programme for Government Our Shared Future notes that the review will take place in 2021.
