Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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836. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a situation which has arisen in which doctors are not being reimbursed by the HSE for providing abortion services to migrants, international students and others resident here but who do not possess a PPSN; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36971/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Termination services are available without charge to women resident in Ireland.  The relevant fees for these services have been established and are paid to GPs who provide the service by the HSE.  As the operation of payments is an operational matter, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to this aspect of the question.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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837. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has a referral policy for cases in which a doctor refuses to provide reproductive health services to patients due to conscientious objection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36972/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Conscientious objection is covered under Section 22 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.  This section states that where he/she has a conscientious objection, a medical practitioner, nurse or midwife shall not be obliged to carry out, or participate in the carrying out, a termination of pregnancy.

Section 22 (3) provides that where a doctor, nurse or midwife has a conscientious objection, he/she shall, as soon as may be, make any necessary arrangements for the transfer of the woman’s care to enable her to avail of termination of pregnancy. 

The Act makes it clear that conscientious objection cannot be invoked in an emergency situation, when the risk to a pregnant woman’s life or health is immediate.

More generally, section 49 of the Medical Council’s Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners (Amended) (8^thEdition 2019) deals with conscientious objection. It sets out the referral procedure to be followed by medical practitioners where a procedure, lawful treatment or form of care conflicts with their sincerely held ethical or moral values.