Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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579. To ask the Minister for Health if he has had discussions with the United Kingdom authorities regarding the operation of legislation for the termination of pregnancies here and the way in which it impacts on Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25328/18]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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580. To ask the Minister for Health if access to abortion services for women in Northern Ireland was discussed when he last spoke to his UK counterpart. [25356/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 579 and 580 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, in the referendum on the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, the people voted in favour of deleting Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution and substituting it with wording confirming that the Oireachtas may make laws for the regulation of the termination of pregnancy in this country.

On 29 May 2018, the Government approved the drafting of legislation based on the provisions of the General Scheme of a Bill to Regulate Termination of Pregnancy, published on the Department of Health website.

Work is ongoing on the legislation to regulate termination of pregnancy, the services necessary to support the implementation of this legislation, and associated costs.

I have not discussed the issue with my counterpart in the UK.