Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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309. To ask the Minister for Health the date he is working towards for Second Stage of the health (termination of pregnancy services (safe access zones)) Bill, the general scheme of which has been published. [6411/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister is committed to ensuring that anyone needing a termination of pregnancy can access services in safety, and with privacy and dignity.

In advancing Safe Access Zones legislation, careful consideration has been given to developing proposals that balance a range of rights, while ensuring the legitimate aim to protect the right of a person to access termination of pregnancy services with privacy and dignity is achieved.

The Heads of Bill have been published on the Department’s website. The General Scheme was sent for pre-legislative Scrutiny on 19th September 2022 and this process is ongoing.

Officials in the Department are engaging intensively with the Office of the Attorney General and relevant stakeholders to progress this legislation as expeditiously as possible.