Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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465. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider repealing the Regulation of Information (Services Outside the State for Terminations of Pregnancy) Act 1995, given that it places serious limits on getting information from reliable sources regarding accessing an abortion. [36270/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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There are currently no plans to repeal the Regulation of Information (Services Outside of the State for Terminations of Pregnancy) Act 1995.

The HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme funds the availability of free-of-charge crisis pregnancy and post abortion counselling services through a range of service delivery models nationally to support equity of access and client choice. This service is provided in 50 centres nationwide. Crisis pregnancy counselling services are also offered by other providers not funded by the CPP: such as hospitals, general practitioners, and private counselling services. Post abortion medical checkups are also provided free-of-charge through some of these centres.

If a woman is seeking information on abortion services outside of the state she can access this information in the context of a counselling session with a crisis pregnancy counsellor. A list of nationwide counselling services is available at . Positive Options is promoted through a public awareness campaign of national radio advertising alongside washroom and GP posters. Where a woman requests this information the counsellor must provide information advice and counselling on all options available to her in relation to her particular circumstances. This information must be truthful and objective and fully inform the woman of all courses of action that are available to her.

The crisis pregnancy counsellor can provide verbal and written information on abortion services and procedures in countries where abortion is lawfully available. The woman is supported through her decision by the crisis pregnancy counsellor and counselling is offered at any stage including after the abortion in terms of post abortion counselling .