Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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328. To ask the Minister for Health the reason that the e-tender for the selection of an independent chair to lead the three-year review was not posted on www.etenders.gov.ie despite his assurances to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health on 8 December 2021 that it would be published in the coming days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3993/22]

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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329. To ask the Minister for Health the criteria by which he identified candidates with suitable experience for the position of independent chair of the three-year review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 and subsequently invited them to apply for the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3994/22]

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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335. To ask the Minister for Health when he expects the final decision on awarding the tender for the independent chair of the commission to oversee the three-year review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 will be finalised; the details of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4018/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 328, 329 and 335 together.

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.

As I stated during my appearance before the Joint Committee on Health on 8 December, it is my intention to appoint an independent Chair to lead the second phase of the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.

As the costs involved in contracting an independent Chair to conduct the review were estimated as exceeding €25,000, the legal advice I received was that the Department was obliged under procurement rules to tender for the appointment.

The tender process is currently in train. Given the expertise required for the position, a small number of candidates, identified as having suitable experience, were contacted and invited to apply for the role of independent Chair.

It is my intention that the appointment will be made as soon as possible.

As I have set out 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. Upon completion, a full report with any necessary recommendations, will be submitted to me as Minister for consideration.