Enda Kenny
Ceist:254 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the estimated number of women who have travelled abroad for the purpose of having an abortion each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16026/01]
Written Answers. - Abortion Statistics.
Figures provided by the Office for National Statistics, London, show that the number of abortions performed in England and Wales on women who gave Irish addresses in each year from 1990 to date is as follows:
|
1990 |
4,064 |
|
1991 |
4,154 |
|
1992 |
4,254 |
|
1993 |
4,402 |
|
1994 |
4,590 |
|
1995 |
4,532 |
|
1996 |
4,894 |
|
1997 |
5,336 |
|
1998 |
5,891 |
|
1999 |
6,226 |
|
2000 |
6,388 (Provisional) |
The Cabinet committee is currently considering the Fifth Progress Report of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution, dealing with the issue of abortion. It is not possible at this stage to indicate a timescale for the completion of the committee's work.
The all-party committee's proposals in relation to crisis pregnancies are also being examined. While in principle the Government is committed to an approach along the lines set out in the report, considerable preparatory work will need to be undertaken before a plan such as that proposed can be put in place. Work is under way in my Department on appropriate arrangements for the establishment of an agency such as that proposed by the all-party committee. It would be the task of this agency, when established, to prepare a national plan to combat crisis pregnancy and to oversee its implementation.