Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Many of the changes outlined by the Minister of State are not the required legislative changes that we need to see. That is what we want. The recommendations that emerged from the review have a robust evidence base and are rooted in qualitative research of the lived experience of women and pregnant people who have accessed abortion services since the commencement of the Act. This is a Government-commissioned review, so we need to immediately progress legislative amendments and service developments that accurately reflect the findings of the review, the research underpinning the recommendations that came out of the review and international best practice as set out by the World Health Organization.

The review clause was put in because we recognise that healthcare cannot remain frozen in time. I am aware that here are plans, but the Government cannot delay the legislative and operational changes any further. We need political leadership to ensure that Ireland's reproductive healthcare system is both equitable and is capable of responding to the emerging evidence and clinical best practice in order that it can meet the needs of women and pregnant people. We voted for care, compassion and dignity. Until we make legislative provision for the recommendations contained in the O'Shea report, we are simply not going to get what we for.