Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
768. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he has had discussions with the representative organisations representing general practitioners regarding his proposal to deliver a general practitioner led abortion service up to 12 weeks of gestation; if they have agreed in principle to provide this service; the funding and staffing implications of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15558/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra769. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the estimated increase in the number of abortions that will take place here if the Bill on terminations of pregnancy, the outline of which he published recently, in conjunction with the proposal to replace the 8th Amendment is passed; if these will take place in registered maternity hospitals or in specially provided facilities; if he has met with all the representative bodies of obstetricians and gynaecologists, midwives and other staff who will be involved in such procedures to discuss the implications of this proposed legislation; the examination that has taken place on this proposal with regard to staffing and financial implications; if the impact of this proposal on other services in maternity hospitals has been examined; if so, the conclusions of this examination; if a regulatory impact analysis of the proposal has been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15559/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra770. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if his Department has examined the jurisdictions around the world that provide a general practitioner led abortion service in early pregnancy; if so, the names of these jurisdictions; the conclusions of such an examination in respect of the cost and staffing implications of same; the number of practices in each jurisdiction that provide the service as a proportion of the total number of general practitioner practices; if there is a regional disparity in these jurisdictions in the availability of the service; if an ultrasound examination is mandatory in all or some jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15560/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 768 to 770, inclusive, together.
The Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018 completed all stages in the Houses of the Oireachtas on Wednesday 28th March 2018.
The Minister for Housing Planning and Local Government has made a Polling Day Order for a referendum to be held on Friday 25th May 2018.
On Polling Day, the people will be asked to vote on whether they agree or disagree with the proposal to delete Article 40.3.3 in its entirety, and to substitute an article in the Constitution, the object and effect of which would be to articulate clearly the principle that laws may be enacted by the Oireachtas to provide for the regulation of termination of pregnancy.
In the event that the proposed Referendum on Article 40.3.3 is passed by the people, the Government would seek to give effect to legislation regulating the termination of pregnancy in Ireland. In such circumstances, the Department of Health would, in considering any such legislation, consult with representative bodies of all relevant medical practitioners on the details of the legislative proposals and possible service implications, as is the usually the case in developing legislation.
