Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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114. To ask the Minister for Health if he has liaised with other Departments and bodies regarding the introduction of exclusion zones at facilities providing for the termination of pregnancy; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15768/19]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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124. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the work to introduce legislation to regulate for exclusion zones for facilities providing for the termination of pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15767/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 124 together.

It is my intention to introduce legislation to ensure safe access to premises in which termination of pregnancy services may be provided. It was originally intended to provide for safe access in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, but a number of legal issues were identified during the drafting process. In order to allow full consideration of these issues, and so that the publication of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill would not be delayed, it was decided that the best option would be to provide for safe access to health services in a separate companion piece of legislation in 2019.

Government approval for this approach was received in September 2018.

Officials in my Department are working with the Office of the Attorney General on this legislation with a view to having a General Scheme drafted by the summer. Key stakeholders will be consulted as part of this process.