Written answers

Wednesday, 31 March 2021

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

941. To ask the Minister for Health the number of abortions that have taken place beyond 12 weeks and in the third trimester, respectively, since the introduction of termination services. [16647/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under section 20 (1) of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, a notification of each termination of pregnancy carried out under the legislation must be notified to the Minister for Health within 28 days of it being carried out.

The notifications are recorded on the form entitled “Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (Notifications) Regulations 2018” (Statutory Instrument No. 597 of 2018). The following information is included in the form:

- Medical Council registration number of the medical practitioner who carried out the termination of pregnancy;

- The section of the Act under which the termination was carried out, i.e., section 9, 10, 11 or 12;

- Medical Council registration number(s) of the medical practitioner(s) who made the certification concerned;

- The county of residence, or place of residence (where the woman resides outside of the State) of the woman concerned;

- The date on which the termination of pregnancy was carried out.

No other information is notified to the Minister.

Section 20 of the Act also requires the Minister to prepare a report on the notifications received during the immediately preceding year not later than 30 June in each year and to lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Annual Report on terminations of pregnancy carried out in 2019 is available on the Department of Health’s website.

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

942. To ask the Minister for Health the number of abortions that have taken place in Ireland since the introduction of termination services in which disability is believed to have played a part in opting for an abortion. [16648/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 does not provide for a termination of pregnancy to be carried out on the grounds of a disability.

The Act permits termination to be carried out in cases where there is a risk to the life, or of serious harm to the health, of the pregnant woman; where there is a risk to the pregnant woman’s life or of serious harm to her health in an emergency; where there is a condition present which is likely to lead to the death of the foetus either before or within 28 days of birth; and without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.