Legislative Reviews

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 February 2023

Wednesday, 8 February 2023

Ceisteanna (334)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

334. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of submissions from the total 6,968 public submissions to the abortion legislative review that advocated the retention of the three-day waiting period; the number that advocated for the reduction of the three-day waiting period; the number that advocated for the extension of the three-day waiting period; the number that advocated for the abolition of the three-day waiting period; the number that expressed no view on the three-day waiting period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5534/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Minister for Health commenced the Review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 in line with statutory and Government commitments.

The Review is assessing the effectiveness of the operation of the legislation and will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

The Review is being led by an independent Chair Marie O’Shea and comprises of 2 main phases. As part of the first phase of the review, information, and evidence on the operation of the Act has been collected from women who use the service, from health professionals that provide the service and the views of the general public.

The information requested by the Deputy is part of the research inputs commissioned to inform the first phase of the Review. It is anticipated that the final Report of the Review will be submitted for the Minister's consideration in the coming days, and published as soon as possible thereafter. It is not intended that individual research inputs will be made available in advance of the publication of the final Report.