Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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143. To ask the Minister for Health when he will introduce legislation to provide for safe access zones around sites where abortion services are provided. [18433/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister is committed to ensuring safe access to termination of pregnancy services, and the area remains an ongoing priority for him, the Government and the Department of Health, including progressing legislation this year.

Pre-Legislative Scrutiny hearings for Safe Access Zones legislation were held with Department officials on 19 October 2022 and 18 January 2023.

The Department has responded to the Joint Committee on the queries raised during the PLS process, and their Report is now awaited. The drafting process is at an advanced stage and it is hoped to finalise the bill as soon as possible following receipt of the PLS Report.