Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 6, line 5, after “register” to insert “and such other healthcare practitioners as may be defined by the Minister from time to time”.

I will not speak for other Deputies, but my reason for tabling the amendment is to make provision to allow a future Minister for Health to expand the cohort of healthcare practitioners who may provide abortion care without the need for legislative change. The World Health Organization tells us that abortion care in early pregnancy can be provided at primary care level by a range of health workers, including nurses and midwives. I believe that as the service gets up and running, it will be expanded. A great nurse prescribing programme is in place and many nurses and midwives have contacted me to say they are very interested in ensuring they can be part of service delivery. If we are discussing primary care, we should be mindful of what the World Health Organization states on the matter.