Written answers

Tuesday, 25 January 2022

Department of Health

Legislative Reviews

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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564. To ask the Minister for Health when an independent chair will be selected for the three-year review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; the way that the person will be selected; the input the Houses of the Oireachtas will have in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3051/22]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen 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. Under section 7 of the Act, a review of the operation of the Act must be initiated within three years of the commencement of the Act, i.e., before January 2022.

The review of the operation of the Act has now commenced. As part of the first phase of the review, I announced a public consultation (www.gov.ie/topreview) on the operation of the Act.

As I have stated previously, the review will comprise a three-part approach to appraise the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation. Independent research commissioned to inform the service user and service provider strands will form key elements of the review.

I have previously stated that an independent Chair will be appointed to lead the review later this month. In relation to the Deputy’s questions on the process involved, I can confirm that a small number of candidates, identified as having suitable experience for the position, were contacted and invited to apply for the role of independent Chair. I will make that appointment once a suitable candidate has been identified, as is the usual practice.

Upon completion of the review, a full report with any necessary recommendations, will be submitted to me as Minister for consideration.

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