Ms Christina Zampas:

I have noticed, in countries in which I have worked around the world, that where there is a restrictive abortion regime, it is very difficult to determine how many illegal abortions are happening because the practice is criminalised. It is difficult to gather that data. In Ireland, it is also very difficult to determine how many women are travelling. It is said that approximately 4,000 women are travelling to England and Wales per year, but probably many more women travel all over Europe and there are reports of women going to the US. There are also women having illegal abortions in the country through use of the abortion pill. The figure is probably much higher than 4,000 if the situation in every other country that has a very restrictive law is similar.