Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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260. To ask the Minister for Health if he received advice from organisations on the appointment of the chairperson of the abortion review in January 2022; and to name such organisations. [6215/23]

Stephen 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.

Given the expertise required for the position of independent chair of the review, a small number of candidates, identified as having suitable experience, were contacted and invited to tender for the role. This is in line with European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016. No meeting with the appointed Chair took place prior to the selection process, nor were there recommendations made by any organisation.