Bríd Smith TD Says No More Women Should Be Forced To Travel – Government Must Take Responsibility And Bring Forward Legislation To Implement The Recommendations Of The Abortion Review
People Before Profit Gender Equality spokesperson, Brid Smith TD said:
“I have just received notice from the Chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee, Sinn Féin’s Sean Crowe, that legislative scrutiny will not be carried out on People before Profit’s Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) (Amendment) Bill 2023 in the foreseeable future.
Our bill passed Second Stage by majority vote last May and TDs explicitly voted against a government amendment to delay the passage of the Bill by 12 months.
It’s disappointing but not surprising that the Committee is blocking the Bill from progressing. This is an unacceptable further delay to acting on Dr. Marie O’Shea’s Review of the abortion laws, which was published last February.
The Review identified serious flaws in Ireland’s abortion laws and recommended changing the law to abolish the 3 day wait, reform the provisions on fatal foetal anomalies and risk to health, and reform the criminalisation of abortion for healthcare professionals. All of this is in PBP’s bill.
Now that the Oireachtas Health Committee is refusing to act, pressure must be brought to bear on the Taoiseach and the Government. Simon Harris, who was Minister for Health during the Repeal campaign, promised me in the Dail this week that the Cabinet Committee on Health will consider the legislative reform aspects of the Review shortly. This must now happen immediately.
I will be a thorn in his side until he is again forced to take the action that women need.”
