Neasa Hourigan
Question:51. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the status of the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28069/21]
View answerTuesday, 13 July 2021
Questions (51)
Written answers
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 being progressed this year and it will be led by an independent expert.
While I expect that the independent expert appointed may wish to input on the approach and methodology, at this stage I anticipate that the review 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, and a public consultation will be held.
have held a number of meetings with stakeholder groups to discuss the approach for the review. This includes a cross-party Oireachtas Committee, and a group of Civil Society organisations brought together by the NWCI. I will also be meeting with clinicians providing services. That process is continuing, and the approach will be finalised in due course.
Upon completion, a full report with any necessary recommendations, will be submitted to me, as Minister, for consideration.