Dáil debates

Wednesday, 19 October 2016

Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2016: First Stage

 

1:25 pm

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I move:

That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005.

On behalf of my Labour Party colleagues, I seek leave to introduce the Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2016. The Bill has been drafted to bring much-needed regulation to rogue crisis pregnancy agencies.

Some years ago, a young Labour Party activist, Sinead Ahern, was one of a small number of brave women who went undercover to determine the true extent of what is happening in these rogue, so-called counselling agencies. The issue was highlighted once more recently following similar brave undercover work carried out by two young journalists, Ellen Coyne and Catherine Sanz of The Times. In the best tradition of activism and investigative journalism, the work done by these young women has forced all of us to examine an area we have ignored for too long. What their experience has revealed is shocking. While the debate around the repeal of the eighth amendment begins in communities across Ireland, women are currently being lied to in the most grotesque fashion at a time of exceptional vulnerability for them. Women in crisis pregnancy situations are being told, according to the direct evidence of the women who attended these agencies undercover, that abortion increases the risk of breast cancer or that women who have had abortions will later abuse their children. This behaviour is an appalling abuse of a position of trust and power at a time of great vulnerability for women and it must be brought to an end.

The right to information is a right Irish people voted on in a referendum on a constitutional amendment. It is now guaranteed in our Constitution. As it happens, I was Minister for Health when drafting of the relevant legislation began and our colleague, Deputy Noonan, was the Minister who brought it to the House. None of us could have imagined that 20 years later there would still be agencies operating in a manner that clearly does not give women the accurate, compassionate and true information they require and to which the law and Constitution of the State have determined they are entitled. Enough is enough. We are introducing this Bill to require that those who provide counselling services to women experiencing crisis pregnancies be registered and regulated. It is no different from people giving advice on a range of other medical issues. We will press this legislation as expeditiously as possible through the House and, hopefully, the Seanad. I seek the support of all parties to achieve that objective.

It is no longer tenable to stand over a situation where dieticians or opticians must be regulated but those who counsel women at such vulnerable times are not. The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, appears to agree that action is required and I hope the Government will support the legislation. Indeed, I hope all parties will. The Bill simply adds crisis pregnancy counsellors to the list of professions regulated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act. I thank the Irish Family Planning Association for its help in confirming the wording of the Bill. If enacted, this will be a real step forward in ensuring that women have access to true and accurate information. However, legislation will not be the end of the road. We will have to be determined on this issue and continue to press for progress in the months ahead. These agencies are abusing a position of power. It is time we in this House collectively put a stop to it.

1:30 pm

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the Bill opposed?

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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No.

Question put and agreed to.

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Question put and agreed to.