Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said a proposed new law imposing exclusion zones outside abortion facilities is not needed. In response, the Pro-Life Campaign has said Health Minister Simon Harris withdraw the proposal.

Commissioner Harris made his views known in a letter to the Health Minister that was shared at a special Oireachtas briefing yesterday (Thursday).

The Commissioner said that protests to date have not contravened the law and are peaceful, and he expressed his satisfaction with existing public order legislation.

Commenting on today’s development, Eilís Mulroy of the Pro Life Campaign said it is time now for the Government to give up on the proposed legislation: “Minister Harris should immediately scrap his undemocratic plan to introduce exclusion zone legislation. This proposed law was never about ensuring the safety of women but is about trying to suppress freedom of speech and peaceful assembly.

“People must have the right in a democracy to peacefully assemble without running the risk of being arrested or possibly even receiving a custodial sentence for simply supporting women and their unborn babies.

“The developments at this morning’s Oireachtas briefing amount to a good day for democracy, freedom of speech and common sense”, she concluded.