Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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1573. To ask the Minister for Health the stakeholders he and his Department have consulted with in relation to working through challenges, refining policy positions, and exploring legislative options in relation to his plans to introduce exclusion zones close to abortion facilities. [20170/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to ensuring safe access to termination of pregnancy services, and the area remains an ongoing priority for me, this Government and my Department, including progressing legislation this year.

Officials in my Department are actively engaging with stakeholders to work through the challenges, refine the policy position, and explore legislative options.  Stakeholders include other Government Departments and state bodies such as an Garda Síochána, the HSE, and the Department of Justice.

At my request, and with the support of the Joint Committee on Health, officials also met the Health Committee in March to collaboratively discuss options for overcoming the challenges that have been identified by the Department. I understand that this was a positive session, with the Committee voicing their support for bringing forward safe access legislation. I wish to thank the Committee for their time and input to support the advancement of robust legislation for safe access zones. It is important to me that the appropriate legislative solution is progressed with cross party support. My officials have listened carefully to the views and inputs of the Committee and will consider these into their ongoing work on this matter. 

Subject to Government approval, I plan to have proposals for safe access on the legislative programme for 2022.