Departmental Reviews

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022

Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Questions (682)

Michael Collins

Question:

682. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the details of the steps undertaken in the tendering process leading to the appointment of the independent chairperson of the three-year review of the abortion legislation; if the position was advertised publicly as the Minister assured the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health on 8 December 2021 would happen; the way that it meets the requirements of an independent and transparent process for him to contact a small number of candidates, identified as having suitable experience and invite them to tender for the position of chair; if one of the small number of candidates was the person eventually chosen as the chairperson; if other potential candidates outside of the small number of candidates identified by him were afforded the opportunity via advertisements or otherwise to be notified that a tendering process for the position of chair was underway and open to them to apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6157/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Under section 7 of the Act, a review of the operation of the Act must be initiated within three years of the commencement of the Act, i.e., before January 2022.

As I have stated previously, the review 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. Independent research commissioned to inform the service user and service provider strands will form key elements of the review.

As I stated during my appearance before the Joint Committee on Health on 8 December, it was my intention to appoint an independent Chair to lead the second phase of the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.

As the costs involved in contracting an independent Chair to conduct the review were estimated as exceeding €25,000, the advice I received was that the Department was obliged under procurement rules to tender for the appointment.

Given the expertise required for the position, a small number of candidates, identified as having suitable experience, were contacted and invited to tender for the role of independent Chair. The chair appointed was among those invited to tender.

Following the tender process, I have now appointed Ms Marie O'Shea B.L. as the independent Chair for the second phase of the review. Ms O’Shea has legal expertise, as well as experience in project management and in healthcare sector research. I look forward to receiving the Chair's final report, incorporating her conclusions and any recommendations, in due course.