Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Of course they do and that is why I am progressing this and why I accepted Deputy Howlin's Bill on Second Stage and why I have initiated the public consultation on regulation of counsellors or psychotherapists. I am very clear that we absolutely should. As a result of that consultation I have received 84 submissions which are being reviewed in the Department as we speak and I have already told the Deputy that I expect to be in a position to bring draft designation regulations to the Houses of the Oireachtas within the next couple of months to move on in respect of this.

One would imagine that, subject to the advice of the Attorney General, the most appropriate way to amend the Regulation of Information (Services Outside the State for Termination of Pregnancies) Act 1995 to make sure women have the protections the Deputy and I want them to have would be to make sure the information could be provided only by registered professionals. The registration has to be set up and that is what I am doing with the regulations and then the Act has to be amended.

Deputy Howlin's Bill is on Committee Stage. It is a matter for the Select Committee on Health and Deputy Howlin to decide when to move on that. I appreciate the fact that Deputy Howlin is doing that cognisant of the work going on in my Department and is engaging with the Department on the matter today.

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