Fines of up to €2,500 for anyone breaching abortion safe access zones

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the new legislation should be operational by the end of the year. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Anyone breaching new legislation on safe access zones for abortion facilities could face up to €2,500 or six months in prison.

The Government has agreed the formal drafting of the general scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones) legislation, which will put the exclusion zones on a legal standing.