Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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2422. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the retention of the three-day waiting period in relation to abortion services in view of the fact that almost 1,000 women who availed of counselling did not subsequently undergo an abortion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37778/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Section 12 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 provides that a termination of pregnancy may be carried out by a medical practitioner who, having examined the pregnant woman, is of the reasonable opinion formed in good faith that the pregnancy concerned has not exceeded 12 weeks of pregnancy. A three-day period must elapse between certification and the procedure being carried out.

Where a medical practitioner has formed the reasonable opinion in good faith that a woman’s pregnancy has not exceeded 12 weeks and certified that opinion, and the woman has fulfilled the three-day period, a second medical practitioner may carry out the procedure without a further three-day period where he/she has formed the reasonable opinion in good faith that the pregnancy has not exceeded 12 weeks and has certified that opinion.

I assume the Deputy is asking his question in the context of the review of the operation of the Act, required under section 7 and noted in the Programme for Government, which is being progressed this year. The review clause was included in the Act in order to facilitate monitoring of the impact, operation, and effectiveness of the legislation in practice, as well as of the delivery of services in the area.

It is too early at this stage to speculate as to the recommendations or areas for action which the review report may identify.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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2423. To ask the Minister for Health if he will put in place an information system in regard to the provision of abortion services in Ireland which would provide information on the reason women choose to have an abortion as such information systems are available in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37779/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 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 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.

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 information in the form includes the grounds on which the termination of pregnancy was carried out.

The Annual Report on Notifications, published under section 20 (3) of the Act, provides information on the grounds on which each termination of pregnancy was carried out. The Annual Report 2020 is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef674-health-regulation-of-termination-of-pregnancy-act-2018-annual-report-on-notifications-2020/.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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2424. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the reasons underlying the increased abortion figures in 2019 at a time when abortion rates should have declined in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37780/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Prior to 2019, the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 regulated access to lawful termination of pregnancy in Ireland. Termination was only permitted in cases where there was a threat to the life of the pregnant woman. Figures collected under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 show that 32 medical procedures were carried out in 2018.

As the Deputy will be aware, a referendum on the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution was held on 25 May 2018. The referendum was passed, and article 40.3.3 of the Constitution was amended to confirm that the Oireachtas may make laws for the regulation of the termination of pregnancy.

The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was subsequently signed into law on 20 December 2018. It 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 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.

Expanded services for termination of pregnancy under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 were introduced from 1 January 2019.

In circumstances where the grounds on which termination of pregnancy is legal have been expanded, it is perhaps unsurprising that the number of terminations of pregnancy carried out would increase.