Main provisions of the General Scheme of a Bill to Regulate Termination of Pregnancy
The Irish Times
Minister for Health Simon Harris outlined in the Seanad some of the main provisions of the General Scheme of a Bill to Regulate the Termination of Pregnancy, if the referendum on whether to repeal the Eighth Amendment goes ahead and is passed:
1. Risk to life and health of the woman
. . . it would be the Government’s intention to permit termination of pregnancy in cases where there is a risk to the life or of serious harm to the health of the pregnant woman, without a distinction between risk from physical or mental health. . . .
2. Risk to health in an emergency
. . . would cover situations in which the risk to the life or of serious harm to the health of the pregnant woman is immediate.
3. Conditions likely to lead to the death of the foetus
. . . the Government would propose to permit termination of pregnancy on the grounds of a condition which is likely to lead to death before or shortly after birth.. .
4. Early pregnancy (12 weeks)
. . . it would be the Government’s intention to permit termination up to 12 weeks of pregnancy . . .
5. Offences
. . . a woman who procures or seeks to procure a termination of pregnancy for herself . . . would not be guilty of an offence.
6. Other issues
. . . the Government would also propose to provide in legislation for a number of other issues . . . These would include, for example . . . permitting conscientious objection. . . . [Full Text]