Rebecca Moynihan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to start by expressing solidarity with Poland on the death of Agnieszka due to Poland's restrictive abortion laws. That happened in January and follows the death of a woman known as Izabela in December. As many people would know, the supreme court in Poland rowed back on its abortion laws, as have states such as Texas.

I want to raise the issue of the abortion review that is ongoing here. I am quite concerned that it is being set up to not address the wider issues which need to be addressed such as rogue pregnancy agencies, the 12-week limit and the medically unnecessary three-day wait. I listened to the Minister for Health when he addressed the Joint Committee on Health last December and he continually said that service users would be at the centre of the review. I have gone looking for that and how service users or people who have either accessed abortions in Ireland or have had to travel to access abortions can engage with the review and all I can find is the general online public consultation that is happening. That is quite insulting to women who have been impacted by our abortion laws either in accessing them and the problems they encountered or the nearly 400 women who have to travel every year.

I welcome the appointment of the chair of the review but I am very concerned the review will not have the impact we thought it would have or address the issues of limitations to abortion. Abortion will always be contested. People will always try to row back on abortion rights and sometimes they succeed after waiting for a very long time. It is very important that the women who have been denied abortions, have had to travel or have accessed abortions here are included in the review. I cannot see how they will be included in the review other than an online public consultation process, which the review reminds us can be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

I want to raise a second issue, that of the Minister of State, Deputy Burke's comments on thousands of housing units being delayed by judicial reviews. I find it quite concerning that there seems to be some kite-flying in ways to eliminate judicial reviews, public participation and access to the courts for proper and sustainable planning. While on the other side developers are using what are called SLAPP lawsuits, strategic lawsuits against public participation. I also find it quite concerning that Fine Gael sources have been reported in newspapers today as saying the chairman of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Matthews is not allowing a review of that, which is not true. We must have a proper debate . We need to go back to the source as to why judicial reviews are succeeding. That is because An Bord Pleanála is granting permissions which contravene development plans. If we had not messed with the planning system back in 2018 we would not be in this position now.