Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 18 October 2023
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health
Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (Resumed)
Ms Marie O'Shea:
We cannot go into that. I am told by GPs that where people are not sure or come across as not sure of their decision, the GPs direct them to counselling services. I have spoken to One Family, which runs the My Options helpline. When they go to counselling services, the advice is along the lines that if they were to have the baby, these supports are available and X, Y and Z. It is not simply guidance as to how to procure abortion and it is also guidance as to various resources that are available should they continue the pregnancy as well. I am satisfied, both from the work I did and the people I talked to, that information is freely available to them out there and the State covers the My Options counselling.
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