Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
1296. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the timeline for and details of the scheduled review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; the way in which he plans to collect evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16269/21]
View answer1492. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the timeline and the terms of reference for the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14405/21]
View answer1634. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if the details of any proposed review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 will be provided; the timing and form this review will take; if the review will hear from concerned groups or accept submissions; the role of the Oireachtas Committee on Health in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14884/21]
View answer1929. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the details of the three-year review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; the person or body that will carry out the review; the terms of reference for the review; the timeframe for the review; if submissions will be sought or accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15955/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1296, 1492, 1634 and 1929 together.
The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Section 7 of the Act states that “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 is scheduled to be progressed in 2021 and will be overseen by my Department. It is anticipated that it will take a three-part approach to reviewing the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation. Research to inform the service user and service provider strands will be commissioned and carried out independently, while the Department will manage the public consultation, and collate and analyse the findings of the different strands of the review.
Upon completion a full report, with any necessary recommendations, will be submitted to me, as Minister, for consideration.
