Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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756. To ask the Minister for Health the progress made since 27 June 2020 to establish exclusion zones around medical facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12553/21]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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761. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the promised legislation to establish exclusion zones around medical facilities to ensure that women have safe access to reproductive healthcare facilities, as set out in the programme for government; and the timeline for the introduction and passage of same. [12570/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 756 and 761 together.

It was originally intended to provide for safe access to termination of pregnancy services in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. However, a number of legal issues were identified which necessitated further consideration. Since services under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 commenced in January 2019, there has been a limited number of reports of protests or other actions relating to termination of pregnancy. This is an extremely positive development, suggesting that termination of pregnancy services have bedded in relatively smoothly to date and are becoming a normal part of the Irish healthcare system, in line with Government policy.

However, where problems do arise with protests outside health care services, there is existing public order legislation in place to protect people accessing services, employees working in the service and local residents. The Department of Health has previously liaised with An Garda Síochána around safe access to termination of pregnancy services, and the Garda National Protective Services Bureau issued a notice to all Garda Stations raising awareness about the issue. The notice directed that any protests be monitored, and breaches of existing law dealt with.

The Department has provided information on existing public order and other relevant legislation to the HSE for appropriate distribution.