Health Minister Simon Harris promised another plan on women’s health yesterday, including the provision of abortion services, but did not say how the crisis in gynaecology outpatient waiting lists, which are putting patients at risk, will be tackled.

According to the Irish Independent, doctors have been warned women seeking a routine appointment to see a gynaecologist in the Coombe Hospital, Dublin, will have to wait a year or more. In the country as a whole, there is an ongoing crisis in gynaecology outpatient waiting lists, with 27,913 women facing delays across the country.

Minister Harris said he intended to “develop services in hospital settings in line with the maternity strategy” to support upcoming legislation to implement his preferred radical abortion regime. He promised there would be “equitable access regardless of ability to pay or geographic location”. Mr Harris also said conscientious objection would be facilitated but “it cannot be contemplated that there would not be appropriate referral in these circumstances and we will ensure that there will be”. However, talks have yet to take place with GPs who will deliver medical abortions.

Mr Harris reiterated his plan to erect exclusion zones around maternity hospitals to stop potential pro-life protesters coming too near the entrances.