Continued reform of Ireland's abortion laws needed, say advocates
A cross-party group of senators, TDs, and campaigners from Together For Safety in support of the Safe Access To Termination of Pregnancy Bill at Leinster House on Kildare Street, Dublin. Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos
Continued reform on abortion laws in Ireland is needed despite the “welcome” addition of safe access zones around healthcare centres, Together for Safety has said.
The Limerick-based advocates have urged voters to raise concerns about remaining gaps in abortion provision when speaking to election candidates in the coming weeks.
They had called for these zones as part of changes to how abortions are provided in Ireland since the successful Repeal the 8th campaign in 2018.
Karen Sugrue, co-chair of Together for Safety, said: “The zones do not stop anybody protesting, it just asks them to move back a bit.
"The aim is to give people privacy as they attend their medical appointments.”
Since last week, the zones operate within 100m of the entrance or exit to premises where a GP, obstetrician, or gynaecologist provides services.
This also include hospitals, with 17 of the 19 maternity hospitals now offering terminations.
She said the zones do not remove the right to protest or right to pray from anyone with concerns, saying: “You just move back a little bit, and give people space and privacy for walking into their appointments.”
However, with an election looming, she has called on those with similar concerns to raise this directly with candidates from all parties, and independents.
A substantial issue in the review of the abortion system by barrister Marie O’Shea, published last year, is the continued need for travel by vulnerable patients.
“We want people to know there are still couples and families in crisis travelling every single week over to the UK because they can’t be treated here,” Ms Sugrue said.
She added: “Very, very often they still have to travel — I think it is about two families a week or even three. It is an absolutely shocking number.”
While the legislation allows for terminations for medical reasons, this diagnosis often comes after the 12-week cut-off for abortions in Ireland, she explained.
“It’s a very distressing thing,” she said.
“There was a repeal review done last week, and she [Ms O’ Shea] recommended lots of changes. None of those changes have been brought in.”
Yvie Murphy, co-chair of Together for Safety, said: “We want to take this opportunity to remind people that abortion rights in Ireland that were so hard won, could easily be lost, as they have been in America.”
“So we are asking everyone who voted yes in 2018 to please ask every general election candidate who comes to your door over the coming weeks what their position on abortion rights is”.
A HSE service improvement group continues to work on Ms O’Shea’s recommendations.
Health minister Stephen Donnelly previously said in the Dáil that there has been “a sustained increase in community providers” . He also expects the remaining two maternity hospitals to join the programme this year. They would offer terminations up to 12 weeks' gestation.
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