Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Data are very important. We might even disagree about some of this as we go through the legislation later. More data are likely to be collected on this health service than on any other. I and my successors will lay a report before the Houses annually. Among the numbers and statistics to be laid before the Houses annually will be the number of refusals of reviews under the legislation.

I fully agree that women from Northern Ireland should be able to access termination in this country. Deputy O'Reilly and I had a very good meeting with advocates from the North. They will be able to access it. We have not yet found a mechanism on the eligibility to make it free, as we have for citizens in the Republic of Ireland, but they absolutely will be able to access it. We will have a follow-up meeting with advocates from Northern Ireland when these services are operational in the Republic of Ireland in January.

I know Ministers come and go. Deputy Catherine Murphy is right in saying that elections happen and we all change. For the sake of my successors I want to put on the record of the House that the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health or the Dáil should agree the terms of reference for any such review. I have no difficulty with that; it is sensible and prudent. I say that on the record of the House so that any successor should have to explain why they are changing their mind on that. I also think it should be an external and independent process. I do not think in primary legislation we should be prescriptive on what that review encompasses for the reasons outlined by Deputy Donnelly.

I obviously proposed my amendment to reduce the period of time for the review from five years to three years. I emphasise that we are not waiting three years to get data or statistics. Obviously a mechanism under the Health Act is available to me to demand any information and data from the HSE at any time. Under the health committee and these Acts I am accountable, as is the HSE, to various committees for keeping Members up to date. A comprehensive, independent review in three years with the buy-in and agreement of all Members of the House on the terms of reference is the way to proceed.

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