Written answers
Tuesday, 13 July 2021
Department of Health
Abortion Services
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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87. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28327/21]
Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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161. To ask the Minister for Health when information will be provided on the review into the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28222/21]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 161 together.
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 it will be led by an independent expert.
While I expect that the independent expert appointed may wish to input on the approach and methodology, at this point I anticipate that the review 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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