27 April 2023 - New report shows shortage of abortion services in Ireland
Nine counties have fewer than five GPs providing abortion care
Jennifer Bray (The Irish Times, 27/04/2023)
Half of the counties in the Republic have fewer than 10 GP contracts for the provision of abortion services while nine counties have fewer than five GPs providing abortion care, a new review has found.
An independent review into the effectiveness of the State’s abortion laws has found that uneven geographic coverage could render the service untenable in some places, and that the number of providers has increased only marginally since 2019 when access to abortion became legal for the first time.
No decision made on abortion law changes - Varadkar
Ailbhe Conneely (RTE, 26/04/2023)
No decision has been made regarding legislative changes to the State's abortion law, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said in the Dáil.
An independent review of the Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy has recommended that the Health Service Executive undertakes a mapping exercise to ascertain the precise number of medical practitioners providing abortion services nationwide.
The Irish Times view on the report on abortion legislation: a nationwide service in name only
Editorial (The Irish Times, 26/04/2023)
The report on the operation of abortion services in the State, written by barrister Marie O’Shea for the Department of Health, is a comprehensive document which provides a useful blueprint for action in many areas and, in others, points for the political system to consider. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly was obliged to commission the report three years on from the new regime being introduced after the referendum on the Eighth Amendment. Much has changed since then, but the service levels available to women remain underdeveloped in many cases and the wording and operation of the legislation is causing some problems.
Over 8,000 abortions carried out in Ireland last year, Taoiseach tells the Dáil
Senan Molony (The Independent Ireland, 25/04/2023)
There were over 8,000 abortions carried out in Ireland last year, the Taoiseach has told the Dáil, a figure equivalent to 22 every day.
The report of an Abortion Review will be published tomorrow, the Taoiseach said, confirming that only 11 out of 19 maternity hospitals in Ireland currently provide surgical terminations, four years after the repeal of the Eighth Amendment.