Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that we take No. 19 ahead of No. 1. I am seeking leave to introduce the Worker Co-Operatives and Right to Buy Bill 2021.

I raise the issue of the review of the eighth amendment and the termination of pregnancy legislation. Last Thursday evening, I attended and spoke at a webinar organised by Together for Safety in Limerick. Two particular issues concern me. First, we need safe access zone legislation. Protests were held outside the maternity hospital in Limerick every day during Lent. I know that protests were also held at other hospitals. I gather from the response to a recent Commencement matter that the Government is actually retreating from introducing this legislation. A Minister of State gave that clear message on the day the matter was taken. We need to have an urgent debate on the issue.

I was equally distressed to hear evidence given at the webinar by someone who works with women in direct provision centres. She was able to tell us that abortion pills are being sold on the black market for between €300 and €400. That is what these women are being asked to pay because they do not have access to services. The reason is that only one in ten GPs offer services and half of our maternity hospitals do not offer termination services. I was a member of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, alongside others on a cross-party basis. Members were almost unanimous on the ancillary recommendations around the need to ensure that all women are treaty equally in relation to access to services and the urgent need for free contraception.

Unfortunately, in relation to safe access zone legislation, access to contraception and, crucially, achieving equality, we are from where we should be at this point. We need an urgent debate on the matter. Above all, we need to heed the National Women's Council of Ireland's call that the review, which the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, is telling us is progressing, has an independent chairperson at its head. It has to be a meaningful, independent review. I am afraid that, to date, it does not look like that is going to be the case.