Category: Ireland

HSE ordered to ensure abortion service from January 1st

Department asks all 19 maternity units for updates on availability of service Minister says doctors have right to object but women have a right to healthcare

The Irish Times

Jennifer Bray and Paul Cullen

The Department of Health has told the Health Service Executive to ensure abortion will be available in all 19 maternity units from January 1st, amid continuing uncertainty over whether the Government’s deadline for the introduction of the service will be met.

The department has also asked the units to provide updates on how they plan to provide for abortion services from the New Year. Doctors in a number of smaller maternity units have said they do not have the resources to provide the service from next month. . . [Full text]


GPs walk out of EGM over concerns about abortion services

BreakingNews

Update: Dozens of GPs staged a walk-out of the Irish College of General Practitioners’ Extraordinary General Meeting today.

300 members attended the meeting to discuss the provision of abortion services by GPs.

According to the ICGP, 50 or so GPs walked-out after 30 minutes over objections to the official procedure of the meeting.

However, Killarney-based GP Dr Andrew O’Regan, who is Pro Life, said about one-third of the group of more than 300 walked out when the board of the ICGP “refused to accept members’ motions from the floor”. . . [Full text]

HSE to help women find doctors who provide abortion services

Irish Examiner

Elaine Loughlin

A new HSE helpline will provide women seeking terminations with the names of doctors in their locality who provide abortion services.

The helpline which is being set up in tandem with the rollout of abortion services after the passing of the historic referendum to repeal the eighth amendment, will provide advice on options and support to women. . . [Full text]

GPs critical of timing of ICGP meeting on provision of abortion services

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Ailbhe Conneely

GPs who organised a petition calling on the Irish College of General Practitioners to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting on the provision of abortion services in Ireland, have described the decision to hold it in four weeks time as “wholly unacceptable”.

The 2 December EGM was announced in a statement by the ICGP board this evening, after it received a petition from hundreds of General Practitioners, who are concerned about the introduction of GP-led abortion services here. . . . [Full text]


Peadar Tóibín suspended from Sinn Féin for six months for voting against abortion legislation

thejournal.ie

Christina Finn

SINN FÉIN’S PEADAR Tóibín has been suspended from the party for six months.

Disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against the Meath TD, who broke ranks with his party’s policy by voting against the abortion legislation in the Dáil last month.

As indicated by Sinn Féin party leader Mary Lou McDonald in April, Tóibín would face suspension from the party for doing so. . . [Full text]