Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This day three years ago, a majority of voters voted to amend Bunreacht na hÉireann to repeal the eighth amendment and make abortion services freely, legally and safely available for women. Following on from that in 2018, the legislation was introduced and in 2019, abortion and the termination of early pregnancy became legally and safely available to women. It has worked for many women in crisis pregnancies but the legislation is not perfect and the provision of early termination of pregnancy services is not perfect either. Thankfully, at the time the legislation was introduced, there was a commitment to conducting a review after three years, which was prescient.

I ask the Leader to raise with the Minister for Health the promised review of the provision of termination of pregnancy services. Many women have availed of the service, particularly in crisis circumstances, with 90% of terminations taking place before 12 weeks. For some women, however, who may be in very disadvantaged circumstances, the legislation has further disadvantaged them. Only ten of the 19 maternity services in the country provide abortion care, while the legislation to provide for safe zones around abortion care facilities is still pending. In 2019, the year after the referendum, 375 women with an Irish address travelled to the UK for a termination. The pandemic has been so lonely and isolating for all of us, but I cannot imagine how it has been for women facing a crisis pregnancy. It is estimated that 30 of them had to travel to the UK for a termination. Imagine the loneliness, pain and hurt, and having to deal with strangers and justify a trip that no woman would ever want to make.

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Health to advise the House on what arrangements he has made for a review of the legislation? Specifically, he might confirm that an independent expert chairperson will be assigned and that he will engage with all stakeholders, including, most critically, women who have availed of abortion services not only in Ireland but also in the UK, and those who have been charged with the provision of abortion care in order that the recommendations can be evidence based and promptly made.