Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 September 2021
636. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health if the unplanned pregnancy support and abortion care study commissioned by the HSE and carried out by a person (details supplied) is part of the three-year review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; the stage the study is at; and when it is due to be published. [45058/21]
View answerThe review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 is being progressed this year, in line with statutory and Government commitments. It will comprise a three-part approach to appraise the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation.
An independent expert will be appointed to lead the review. Independent research commissioned to inform the service user and service provider strands will form key elements of the review. An invitation will also be extended to all interested groups, organisations and members of the public to provide their views to inform the review of the operation of the legislation.
It is my understanding that the research study commissioned by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme will be published before the end of the year. The service user strand of the review will draw on the research, which is a large-scale qualitative on women’s experiences of abortion and unplanned pregnancy support services since the implementation of the Act on 1 January 2019.
A full report collating all three strands of the review, and including any necessary recommendations, will be submitted to me, as Minister for Health, for consideration once complete.
