A report claiming the Government had scrapped promised laws to introduce so-called “safe access zones” outside maternity hospitals and clinics providing abortion was quickly denied by the Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly.
The Irish Examiner reported that the Department of Health confirmed that the Government will rely on existing public order law to police any protests or vigils outside maternity hospitals or GP practices and has no current plans to introduce safe access zones.
However, in response to the Examiner article, Mr Donnelly, told RTE he is still “fully committed” to introducing the legislation.
No country in Europe has a blanket ban on such protests.
