Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Why has there been such a serious delay in legislating to provide for safe access zones around healthcare providers and maternity hospitals where abortions are carried out? This legislation has long been promised by the Government. Indeed, the then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, promised it back in 2018 when we were debating the abortion legislation. A Private Members' Bill to provide for safe access zones to protect women and healthcare staff will be debated on Committee Stage in Government time in the Seanad tomorrow. Why will the Government not simply bring that legislation further? I am glad it is giving Government time for it, but I understand from the spring legislative programme that the Government still intends to bring forward its own legislation rather than allowing this Private Members' Bill, which has cross-party support and the support of doctors, healthcare providers, Together for Safety and other advocacy groups, to be brought forward. There is an extremely troubling report from Together for Safety that anti-choice activists have been obtaining information about dates and times of appointments for terminations so they can harass women.

See this speech in context