Ireland – Abortions will be free but some patients will have to pay for related drugs

Abortions will be free but some patients will have to pay for related drugs
Draft plans on terminations also call for conscientious objectors to opt out in 'timely manner'

Dec 14, 108
Martin Wall, Jennifer Bray

Patients not covered by medical cards who receive abortion services will have to pay for the cost of pain relief drugs and antibiotics under draft proposals for a new model of care.

The draft document, dated December 14th, says that while termination of pregnancy services will be provided universally free of charge, those without medical cards will have to pay for drug costs and those with the card will be subject to a prescription charge.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/abortions-will-be-free-but-some-patients-will-have-to-pay-for-related-drugs-1.3731994


Ireland – Abortion services available from January 1, but will be limited, Harris admits

Abortion services available from January 1, but will be limited, Harris admits

14/12/2018

Termination of pregnancy services will be available in Ireland from January 1 - but it will be a limited service, Health Minister Simon Harris has admitted.

The minister said it would “take time” for termination services to “fully embed” and be available in every hospital in the country.

Continued: https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/abortion-services-available-from-january-1-but-will-be-limited-harris-admits-892196.html


Ireland – Abortion campaigners hail ‘historic day’ but eye changes

Abortion campaigners hail ‘historic day’ but eye changes
Activists celebrate but urge full decriminalisation and removal of three-day wait period

Dec 13, 2018
Jennifer Bray

Ailbhe Smyth heard around 4pm that there was a possibility that legislation clearing the way for abortion in Ireland could pass earlier than the expected 10pm finishing time.

She hopped on a Luas and headed to the city centre to make her way to Leinster House. Following years of effort, this was not a moment to miss. She was not alone.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/abortion-campaigners-hail-historic-day-but-eye-changes-1.3730715


Ireland – Master of Coombe says hospital not ready to provide abortion services

Master of Coombe says hospital not ready to provide abortion services

Tuesday, 11 Dec 2018

The Coombe Hospital will not be ready to provide abortion services by the start of January, according to the Master of the hospital, Dr Sharon Sheehan.

Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Dr Sheehan said she would advise Minister for Health Simon Harris to delay the introduction of services until February or March.

Continued: https://www.rte.ie/news/health/2018/1211/1016557-abortion/


Ireland – Liam Weeks: ‘Abortion: the issue that never goes away’

Liam Weeks: 'Abortion: the issue that never goes away'
New disagreements suggest the referendum has made abortion more political than ever

Liam Weeks
December 9 2018

After six referendums and 35 years of debate, there was a sentiment, or at least an expectation, that the abortion issue had finally been put to bed last May.

But, as the events surrounding Minister Simon Harris's plans to legislate for the referendum result have shown, abortion remains a live political issue.

Continued: https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/liam-weeks-abortion-the-issue-that-never-goes-away-37607855.html


Ireland – ‘Doctors divided as HSE rushes to tick boxes on abortion’

Maeve Sheehan: 'Doctors divided as HSE rushes to tick boxes on abortion'
Pressure is mounting for the January 1 start date for termination services to be put back

Maeve Sheehan
December 9 2018

There are 22 days to go before the roll-out of abortion services on January 1. It should be a historic occasion when the overwhelming support shown by Irish voters for a woman's right to choose becomes reality.

But as the deadline looms, disquiet among some doctors that it is ambitious to the point of being unsafe has grown louder.

Continued: https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/maeve-sheehan-doctors-divided-as-hse-rushes-to-tick-boxes-on-abortion-37607881.html


Ireland – Holles Street boss says full abortion services unlikely to be rolled out in January

Holles Street boss says full abortion services unlikely to be rolled out in January

Mícheál Ó Scannáil
December 8 2018

Master of the National Maternity Hospital Dr Rhona Mahony has said that Simon Harris' promise to roll out a full abortion service by January is unlikely.

Speaking on RTÉ's Marian Finucane Show, Dr Mahony said that while some services may be available, it would be a “big ask” for the entire service to be rolled out by January 1.

Continued: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/holles-street-boss-says-full-abortion-services-unlikely-to-be-rolled-out-in-january-37606971.html


Ireland – Boylan warns against delay to abortion introduction

Boylan warns against delay to abortion introduction

Friday, 7 Dec 2018

The number of people seeking abortion services in Irish hospitals once they are introduced is "not going to be huge," according to the clinical adviser to the HSE's National Women and Infants Programme.

Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Sean O'Rourke, Dr Peter Boylan said he understood medical colleagues had "genuine concerns" about the introduction of such services, but said he felt "they are more around the area of change".

Continued: https://www.rte.ie/news/health/2018/1207/1015814-abortion/


Ireland – Ronan Mullen pledges to ‘fight the good fight’ in Seanad abortion debate

Ronan Mullen pledges to 'fight the good fight' in Seanad abortion debate

Friday, December 07, 2018
By Daniel McConnell

Health Minister Simon Harris is set to reject amendments to his controversial abortion legislation when it is debated in the Seanad on Monday.

Concerns have been expressed by senators on both sides of the debate with pro-life opponents to the bill criticising attempts to rush the legislation through, while pro-choice senators have expressed concern over elements of the bill as currently drafted.

Continued: https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/ronan-mullen-pledges-to-fight-the-good-fight-in-seanad-abortion-debate-890661.html


Slow passage: All eyes on Seanad as delays risk timeline of abortion bill

Slow passage: All eyes on Seanad as delays risk timeline of abortion bill

Laura Larkin
December 7 2018

Senators are wont to complain that nobody pays attention to the upper house - they won't have that to say over the coming days, as their handling of the abortion legislation will come under intense scrutiny.

The painfully slow passage of the legislation through the Dáil - which saw extensive debate, some old-fashioned mudslinging, and no meaningful change to the bill in the end - put the timeline for services at risk.

continued: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/slow-passage-all-eyes-on-seanad-as-delays-risk-timeline-of-abortion-bill-37603274.html