Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 11:

In page 8, line 9, to delete “5 years” and substitute “3 years”.

I do not intend to take any time on this. It is prudent and sensible to review the operation of an Act and that we would not make the mistake of other countries by passing a Bill and considering that we had done our job here. It is important that we check the Act, which is about access and about women's healthcare, is working for women and for the medical profession. I had proposed on Committee Stage that the review would take place after five years. After engaging with colleagues across the House, there was a view that five years was a little bit too long. I now propose an amendment to reduce that to three years. There is also an amendment in from colleagues to specify what the review should do. I understand that my colleagues are very keen to ensure that the information they require is covered in the review. I do not believe that it is appropriate or desirable to set that out in legislation. It could have an unintended consequence of limiting the scope of any future review situation, a consequence which I know we would all wish to avoid. Amendment No. 11 proposes to reduce from five years to three years the period after which a review should be carried out.

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