Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes and for many others, it facilitates access. It means that people can access services on the island of Ireland without having to travel to another island and stay overnight in the United Kingdom or experience high air fares and so on. It means being able to visit a GP in the Republic at an early stage of pregnancy to access services at primary care level. However, the Deputy should not take this to suggest I think it is satisfactory. My commitment was given in good faith. My commitment that women would be able to access the service has been acted on. The commitment on which I want to deliver, however, is that they can access it freely, like women living in the Republic. I have outlined matters truthfully to the Deputy and the Amnesty International and other groups she brought to see me that day and we are trying to find a way through it. What I am outlining in the Dáil today is the fact that eligibility for public health services is based on a person being ordinarily resident in the State. The work taking place is to find a legal way around this. I am committed to working hard on the issue with the Office of the Attorney General and keeping the Deputy up to date. It would be useful to meet her, any other interested colleague and the group to which she referred in the coming weeks.

See this speech in context