Written answers
Thursday, 1 July 2021
Department of Health
Abortion Services
Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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448. To ask the Minister for Health if the scheduled three-year review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 will be conducted independently of his Department and the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29105/21]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Section 7 of the Act states that “The Minister shall, not later than 3 years after the commencement of this section, carry out a review of the operation of this Act."
The review is being progressed this year and will be led by an independent expert. It is anticipated that it will take a three-part approach to reviewing the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation. Research to inform the service user and service provider strands will be commissioned and carried out independently, and a public consultation will be held.
Upon completion, a full report, with any necessary recommendations, will be submitted to me, as Minister, for consideration.
I have held a number of meetings with stakeholder groups to discuss the approach for the review; this will be finalised in due course.
Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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449. To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to abide by the commitment provided by a former Minister for Health with respect to the formulation of the terms of reference for the three-year review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (details supplied); if he will facilitate the agreement of all Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas on the terms of reference for the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29106/21]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Section 7 of the Act states that “The Minister shall, not later than 3 years after the commencement of this section, carry out a review of the operation of this Act."
The review is being progressed this year and will be led by an independent expert. It is anticipated that it will take a three-part approach to reviewing the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation. Research to inform the service user and service provider strands will be commissioned and carried out independently, and a public consultation will be held.
Upon completion, a full report, with any necessary recommendations, will be submitted to me, as Minister, for consideration.
I have held a number of meetings with stakeholder groups to discuss the approach for the review; this will be finalised in due course.
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