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
Mr. Muiris O'Connor:
Yes. We continue to work with the Garda but what is presented to the committee in the current draft benefits greatly from its input. In terms of operational terms, the Garda felt the facility to clarify to people that they are breaking the law, that they are in a safe access zone and that what they are doing is illegal, in the sense of a warning, was a further assurance around proportionality, as was the assurance during an interaction that on being informed of his or her action being illegal, such a person was then operating intentionally. The offence then is subsequent to that Garda warning. That is how we have benefited from interaction with An Garda Síochána and the Office of the Attorney General is helping to set out the definitions.
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