Written answers

Tuesday, 14 July 2015

Department of Health

Abortion Legislation

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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510. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the name of the appropriate institutions where all terminations under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 were carried out, or the name of the location if carried out elsewhere in an emergency, as provided for in the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 (Section 20) (Notifications) Regulations 2013 Statutory Instrument No. 546 of 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28272/15]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act was signed into law by the President on 30 July 2013 and was commenced on 1 January 2014.Section 3 of the Act sets out appropriate institutions for the purposes of the Act:

3. (1) The Minister may by order, where he or she thinks it appropriate for the purposes of this Act, specify any institution managed by the Executive, or by another person pursuant to an arrangement entered into under section 38 of the Health Act 2004—

(a) at which in-patient services are provided under the direction of medical practitioners from not less than 3 medical specialties and which is wholly or partly used for the care and treatment of women in relation to any one or more of the following:

(i) pregnancy;

(ii) childbirth;

(iii) post-partum care,

or

(b) at which in-patient services (including intensive and critical care services) are provided under the direction of medical practitioners from not less than 7 medical specialties, and any institution so specified shall be an appropriate institution for the purposes of this Act.

The Schedule to the Act sets out a comprehensive list of such ‘Appropriate Institutions’ for the purposes of the Act.

As the Deputy will be aware, the first annual report on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, as required under Section 20 of the Act. However the information published on these procedures is restricted. It is restricted in order to limit the risk of identification in what is a private, confidential matter between women and their doctors. I hope the Deputy appreciates this.

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