Bill to provide safe access zones outside abortion clinics goes to Seanad

Sinn Féin senator Paul Gavan will table the bill, which has been produced by national campaign group Together For Safety. Picture: Maxwells

Legislation to introduce safe access zones outside healthcare settings that provide abortions is being introduced to the Seanad on Tuesday.

The bill has been produced by Together For Safety, a national campaign group who has been calling for implementation of safe access zones for over a year, and will be tabled by Sinn Féin senator Paul Gavan.

As well as Sinn Féin, the bill has been co-signed by Labour, and Civic Engagement, as well as senators Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fáil), Pauline O’Reilly (Green Party), and David Norris (Independent).

Labour Party senator Rebecca Moynihan will formally second the bill.

Mr Gavan said the bill is designed to prevent the kind of "distressing and intimidatory" anti-abortion protests "that we see on a daily basis around the country as people attend medical appointments at hospitals and health centres". 

“The Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021 will create a 100m-area, a safe access zone, around health centres and anywhere women and pregnant people are legally entitled to access abortion care, in which no communication about abortion can take place," he said.

Under the legislation, it would be an offence to protest directly outside hospitals, GP clinics, or other facilities that provide abortion services.

“We were promised at the time of passing of the Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Act in 2018 that safe access zone legislation would swiftly follow," said Mr Gavan.

Three years later, we are still waiting for that legislation.

"Meanwhile, every day, women and pregnant people must endure these protests as they seek to access essential healthcare. This bill will deal with this matter and deliver on the promises made not just by Simon Harris, but also as set out in the current Programme for Government.” 

Mr Gavan said the Upper House has co-operated on a cross-party basis with previous bills and he hopes the same will be the case here.

"While Sinn Féin is proud to be supporting this bill, this is not about party politics, this is just about getting these measures introduced. If there are any Government concerns with the bill in its current format, they can be addressed at committee stage. Women have waited for long enough for action on this issue.

"They should not have to endure these protests for one day longer than is necessary. Now, thanks to Together For Safety, we have a bill that will establish safe access zones in a manner that is legally sound and that has the support of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.”