Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

156. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the review of crisis pregnancy counselling services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48337/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Regulation of Information (Services Outside the State for Termination of Pregnancies) Act, 1995 defines the conditions under which information relating to abortion services lawfully available in another state might be made available in Ireland. That Act provides that where information is provided that would assist a woman in obtaining a termination abroad, that information must be truthful and objective and that a breach of this provision is an offence. If an individual considers that information provided under the Act is not truthful and objective the matter may be referred to the Garda Síochána for investigation.

As the Deputy will be aware, work is ongoing on regulating counsellors generally under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. Pregnancy counselling (other than that provided by doctors, nurses or social workers) will be taken into account in this context. The Department of Health has submitted a draft of the necessary regulations to designate the professions of counsellor and of psychotherapist to both Houses of the Oireachtas for approval.

As well as regulating counsellors under the 2005 Act, consideration will be given as towhether there is a requirement to strengthenthe Regulation of Information (Services Outside the State for Termination of Pregnancies) Act 1995 to prevent professionals who are not regulated by the State from providing crisis pregnancy counselling services.

The Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution is currently considering changes to Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution which are likely to affect all legislation in this area, including the Regulation of Information (Services Outside the State for Termination of Pregnancies) Act, 1995. The Government has agreed to hold a referendum on the Eighth Amendment in May or June 2018, subject to the timely passage of a Constitutional Amendment Bill on the matter by the Houses of the Oireachtas.