An Independent TD has called for full pay for women when they take time off work to have an abortion.

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle said an existing maternity and infant scheme could be extended to grant leave to women planning an abortion. The scheme enables pregnant women to free visits with their GP and obstetrician. They are legally entitled to paid time off for antenatal appointments under Maternity Protection Acts.

Mr Pringle said it would make sense to extend an existing maternity scheme rather than trying to come up with a new one. “Ultimately, it’s the only way to ensure full pay because some employers don’t pay sick pay at all,” he said.

“Some mechanism needs to be set up to ensure they get some form of sick pay.”