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

It is now more than a year and a half since the expert report was published recommending critical reforms to our abortion laws. Marie O'Shea was clear that the current legal regime is failing women in numerous ways. Her recommendations were equally clear. Among them were to remove the mandatory three-day waiting period, end the criminalisation of doctors and provide clarity in the provision of care in cases of foetal abnormality. Since the report was published in April 2023, those recommendations have been endorsed by the health committee but the Government still refuses to act. The question is why. We know the former Taoiseach, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and the Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, raised concerns about removing the mandatory three-day waiting period. I wonder if the Taoiseach shares those concerns. Is that the reason women are being denied access to healthcare? In advance of the election, it is time for the Taoiseach to clearly outline his position and that of his party on this. He had no problem doing that yesterday when it came to the help-to-buy scheme. The women of Ireland would like similar clarity when it comes to politicians standing in the way of their access to essential healthcare. Does the Taoiseach favour the legal reforms in Marie O’Shea’s report? If so, why has he not acted on them?

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