Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
2424. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his views on the reasons underlying the increased abortion figures in 2019 at a time when abortion rates should have declined in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37780/21]
View answerPrior to 2019, the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 regulated access to lawful termination of pregnancy in Ireland. Termination was only permitted in cases where there was a threat to the life of the pregnant woman. Figures collected under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 show that 32 medical procedures were carried out in 2018.
As the Deputy will be aware, a referendum on the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution was held on 25 May 2018. The referendum was passed, and article 40.3.3 of the Constitution was amended to confirm that the Oireachtas may make laws for the regulation of the termination of pregnancy.
The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was subsequently signed into law on 20 December 2018. It permits termination to be carried out in cases where there is a risk to the life, or of serious harm to the health, of the pregnant woman; where there is a condition present which is likely to lead to the death of the foetus either before or within 28 days of birth; and without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Expanded services for termination of pregnancy under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 were introduced from 1 January 2019.
In circumstances where the grounds on which termination of pregnancy is legal have been expanded, it is perhaps unsurprising that the number of terminations of pregnancy carried out would increase.
