Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Donnelly for raising the matter. It is absolutely the intention that termination of pregnancy services will be free both in the community and in the hospital setting. The amendments to the Health Act 1970 mirror the provisions of that Act as they relate to services for attendance to the health of women in respect of motherhood. Thus, women in receipt of services in accordance with the Act of 2018 are not discriminated against in terms of eligibility. The proposed section 62A(2) contains identical text to section 62(1) of the 1970 Act. This is to make it clear that section 62A never applies to inpatient services because inpatient services are dealt with in sections 51 to 55, inclusive, of the 1970 Act and the necessary amendments to those sections are contained in sections 25(b) and 25(c) of this Bill.