Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 19 October 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

How are we endeavouring to encourage the availability of the service to women who may need to avail of it at short notice? For instance, you cannot take three or four weeks to make up your mind and there are a number of people who by virtue of conscience do not offer the service. The services that are proposed, legislated for and were the subject of a referendum are very strongly recommended to be made available with anonymity and regular and easy availability so the citizen, who in this case is a woman, may have access to them without being afraid of being identified or pilloried. That applies to any service that might be sought in a hospital, health centre or wherever else. There must be a fair amount of anonymity such that if a service becomes a target, or those who want to protest identify particular locations, then the failure to adhere to the constitutional approval and the legislative provisions is in question. Any impedance, anything that frightens the person seeking a service, for instance, if a person has any illness or ailment-----

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