Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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1237. To ask the Minister for Health to provide a timeline as to when the remaining two maternity hospitals are due to be in a position to offer full termination of pregnancy services, as prescribed in the 2018 Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11644/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Currently 17 of the 19 maternity hospitals are providing full termination of pregnancy services, as prescribed in the 2018 Act, which includes termination in early pregnancy (i.e. under 12 weeks).

In the remaining two sites, Cavan and Clonmel, the introduction of the service is dependent on the recruitment of additional consultant obstetrician gynaecologists, which is progressing, as is the establishment of the appropriate referral and care pathways within those hospitals.

The HSE envisages that termination services in early pregnancy will commence in Cavan and Clonmel this year.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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1238. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update in relation to the progression of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023; and can he confirm that this bill will be completed in the lifetime of this current Dáil term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11645/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to ensuring safe access to termination of pregnancy services.

I secured Cabinet approval to legislate for the designation of safe access zones around healthcare premises to safeguard access to termination of pregnancy services in July 2022 and published the General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones) in August 2022. Since that time officials have worked with the Office of the Attorney General and other relevant stakeholders to draft the text of a bill. This Bill was published at the end of June 2023, and initiated in the Dail in early July. It has now passed all stages in Dail Eireann and is currently at Committee Stage in Seanad Eireann. It is my intention that the Bill will be enacted as expeditiously as possible.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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1239. To ask the Minister for Health to clarify if the mandatory three-day waiting period before being able to access abortion services will be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11647/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The final Report of the Review of the operation of the Health(Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was submitted to me at the end of February 2023. It made a range of recommendations, most of which are operational in nature, with some proposing legislative change.

The Report was considered by Cabinet on April 25th 2023. The HSE, as agreed by Government, has established an implementation group to progress the operational recommendations. The proposals recommending legislative changes, including changes to the three day wait, were referred to the Joint Committee on Health for consideration.

In December 2023, the Joint Committee on Health issued a report on the proposed legislative recommendations. This is now being considered in my Department.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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1240. To ask the Minister for Health to clarify whether there are any penalties or complaints procedures in place in relation to healthcare workers causing wilful delay or obstruction to women seeking to access abortion services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11648/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Complaints in relation to the provision of health services in Ireland, can be made through the HSE complaints procedure where the service falls under the auspices of the Executive, or in the case of healthcare professionals to relevant regulatory body such the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, the Medical Council or CORU.