Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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854. To ask the Minister for Health the arrangements that exist to ensure that healthcare professionals who do not wish to participate in abortions can exercise freedom of conscience in this regard during their training as doctors, nurses and midwives and or pharmacists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37675/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, section 22 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 deals with conscientious objection by medical staff in relation to the provision of termination of pregnancy services.

This section states that where he/she has a conscientious objection, a medical practitioner, nurse or midwife shall not be obliged to carry out, or participate in the carrying out, a termination of pregnancy.

In the event of a doctor, nurse or midwife having a difficulty in undertaking a required medical procedure, he or she will have a duty to make arrangements for the transfer of the woman’s care to a colleague.

The Act makes it clear that conscientious objection cannot be invoked in an emergency situation, when the risk to a pregnant woman’s life or health is immediate.

Conscientious objection is limited to persons involved in the delivery of the treatment only and does not extend to any other persons, or to institutions.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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855. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department will undertake further independent research into abortion provision through remote consultations, in light of a report in a newspaper (details supplied) on 1 July 2025 on the lack of regulation of telemedicine, and the HSE's more recent position since the 2021 review that telemedicine abortion can make it more difficult to identify coercion or abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37676/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Revised Model of Care for Termination of Pregnancy Services was introduced in response to the Covid 19 pandemic.

In light of the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in 2021, my Department requested the HSE to review whether remote consultation as part of a blended approach to termination of pregnancy care should be continued post public health emergency, in community care settings.

The review supported the retention of remote consultation as part of a blended approach to termination of pregnancy care. While the revised blended Model of Care provides for remote consultation, in general, early medical termination of pregnancy will be provided by in-person or a blend of in-person and remote consultation. Full remote provision of early medical termination of pregnancy will not be routine and will only be provided in extenuating circumstances, using clinical judgement and putting appropriate safeguards in place.

The safety of termination of pregnancy by telemedicine is endorsed by organisations with significant experience in providing termination of pregnancy care including, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), the National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory Service and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The revised model of care has now been approved as the enduring model of care.