Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
615. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the engagements he has had with a person (details supplied) in relation to the recommendations in their extensive Independent Review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; if any future engagements are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46671/23]
View answerMarie O’Shea, BL was contracted by the Department of Health, to undertake a designated piece of work, namely the Review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. This work was completed and the final Report submitted to me as Minister at the end of February 2023. Following the submission of the final Report, I met with Ms. O Shea on 4th April 2023.
The final Report of the Review was considered by Cabinet at the end of April 2023. The Report made a range of recommendations, most of which are operational in nature with some proposing legislative change. The HSE has established, as agreed by the Government, an implementation group to progress the operational recommendations.
A draft implementation action plan has been developed containing a number of workstreams. The Implementation Group is Chaired by the National Women and Infants Health Programme, (NWIHP) Director.
The proposals recommending legislative changes have been referred to the Joint Committee on Health for consideration.
