Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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695. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the actions of an organisation (details supplied) that has been openly advertising and distributing abortion pills at various locations here contrary to the provisions of the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act 2013; the measures he is taking to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13401/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 restates the general prohibition on abortion in Ireland while regulating access to lawful termination of pregnancy in accordance with the X case and the judgment of the European Court of Human rights in the A, B and C v Ireland case. Its purpose is to confer procedural rights on a pregnant woman who has a life-threatening condition, so that she can have certainty as to whether she requires this treatment or not. The Act does not regulate the advertising or distribution of medicines.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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696. To ask the Minister for Health the details of all confiscations and seizures of illegal abortion inducing pills over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13402/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the competent authority responsible for the regulation of human medicines in Ireland. The HPRA employs enforcement actions, in cooperation with the Revenue Commissioners and An Garda Síochána, to identify the unauthorised supply of prescription only medicines, including those containing abortifacients, to the public. The HPRA uses a range of enforcement powers to tackle this activity including seizing product and taking prosecutions.

During the period from 1st January 2012 to 31st December 2016 the total numbers of abortifacient tablets detained were 3,042 Misoprostol tablets and 286 Mifepristone tablets. The breakdown of these per year is as follows:

- 2016: 536 tablets detained from 44 importations. Of these, 436 contained misoprostol and 100 contained mifepristone

- 2015: 850 tablets detained from 81 importations. Of these, 739 contained misoprostol and 111 contained mifepristone

- 2014: 1,017 tablets detained from 60 importations. Of these, 972 contained misoprostol and 45 contained mifepristone

- 2013: 438 tablets detained from 25 importations. Of these, 424 contained misoprostol and 14 mifepristone

- 2012: 487 tablets detained from 25 importations. Of these, 471 contained misoprostol and 16 mifepristone