Mr. Muiris O'Connor:

The review of the operation of the Act referred to by the Senator being led by Marie O'Shea is at a very advanced stage. Its methodology has involved engagement with service providers, GPs and other health professionals not providing the service and service users so we will get some insight from that review. The Department has not engaged directly. We would link up with the HSE regarding those matters.

Deputy Cullinane opened with the issue of general access. Embedding termination of pregnancy services within general health services at community and acute level is critical to protecting the very good policy of the 2018 Act. Three and a half years into the roll-out of the service, which was interrupted somewhat by Covid and the distraction in the health service, the review of the operation of the Act will show that it is still a service in its infancy. A minority of GPs provide it, and not all hospitals provide it. While this proposed Bill refers to safety in accessing services, the core issue of the provision of services in a way that is geographically distributed and available locally to people all over the country is still a key focus of the roll-out of termination of pregnancy services.