Safe access zones for abortion services 'must not expose providers'

Legislation will apply to all providers who are eligible to provide abortion services, not just those who currently do.

New legislation to allow for safe access zones at facilities that provide abortion services must not “highlight or expose individual providers” of such services, an Oireachtas Committee will hear on Wednesday.

Department of Health assistant secretary Muiris O’Connor will tell members of the Health Committee that the department would be “reluctant” to identify individual providers and would prefer to allow them to operate in a manner that protects privacy and confidentiality.