Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1476. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of pregnancy terminations for each year since the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was commenced by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33529/21]
View answer1477. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of pregnancy terminations sought and their status for each year since the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was commenced in tabular form; the number of terminations for which the patient had to seek services beyond their county by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33530/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1476 and 1477 together.
Under section 20 (1) of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, a notification of each termination of pregnancy carried out under the legislation must be notified to the Minister for Health within 28 days of it being carried out.
The notifications are recorded on the form entitled “Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (Notifications) Regulations 2018” (Statutory Instrument No. 597 of 2018). The following information is included in the form:
- Medical Council registration number of the medical practitioner who carried out the termination of pregnancy;
- The section of the Act under which the termination was carried out, i.e., section 9, 10, 11 or 12;
- Medical Council registration number(s) of the medical practitioner(s) who made the certification concerned;
- The county of residence, or place of residence (where the woman resides outside of the State) of the woman concerned;
- The date on which the termination of pregnancy was carried out.
No other information is notified to the Minister.
Section 20 of the Act also requires the Minister to prepare a report on the notifications received during the immediately preceding year not later than 30 June in each year and to lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Annual Reports on terminations of pregnancy carried out in 2019 and 2020 are available on the Department of Health’s website.
