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

Five years on from the historic referendum to repeal the eighth amendment, many women accessing abortion services continue to suffer abhorrent abuse outside GP clinics and hospitals, including women who are enduring abuse from protesters outside the National Maternity Hospital just down the road from here, so I welcome the Government announcement today of the legislation on safe access zones. This law is long overdue and, indeed, a Private Members’ Bill on this was first mooted back in 2021. I hope we will see swift movement on this Bill. I ask for a timeline for its passage into law and, further, ask for a timeline for implementation of the other reforms to abortion law as laid out and recommended in Marie O'Shea's independent review. I note that review has been referred to the Committee on Health but will the Taoiseach say when we are likely to see legislation to address the unnecessary structural obstacles that still face so many women? We note that 860 women have had to travel to England for abortion services since 2018.

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