Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The review of our abortion law involves some really concerning findings. It states women are experiencing delays and even obstruction when trying to access services. Services in parts of the country are described as untenable and at risk of ceasing altogether because so few GPs and hospitals are involved in service provision. It is an indictment of the public health service that more than four years since we repealed the eighth amendment, just 11 of out 19 maternity hospitals are providing abortion services. More damning is that the hospitals which are not providing the services are run by the State. The report also highlights the paternalistic and patronising three-day mandatory waiting period women have to endure to access care. The difficulty in accessing care in this country when there is a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality is particularly indefensible because of the suffering it is causing. The Taoiseach said he was uncomfortable with some of the recommendations contained in this review. Many of us are uncomfortable with women's legal right to essential healthcare being either obstructed or denied.

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