Legislation to enable exclusion zones around facilities administering abortions has been launched by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. Gardai have previously said existing laws allow them to deal with harassment. No such incidents have been reported and no other EU country has a law like the one Ireland is proposing.

The law is part of the ‘Women’s Health Action Plan 2022’,

Meanwhile, Spanish legislators in the Congress of Deputies have approved legislation that will make offers of assistance, practical support and prayer outside abortion clinics punishable by imprisonment.

The penalty can range from three months to one year in prison or community service from 31 to 80 days. Furthermore, those who are prosecuted could be forbidden from returning to the abortion facilities for up to three years. The Congress of Deputies voted by 204 to 144 in favour of an amendment to the country’s penal code.

The legislation will now move on to the Senate.