Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Act 2024

The Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Act 2024 (Act No. 13 of 2024; previously Bill No. 54 of 2023) is an Act of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) which establishes safe zones around abortion clinics with a radius 100 metres.

Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Act 2024
Oireachtas
Long title An Act to prohibit persons from engaging in certain conduct in safe access zones, that is to say, in certain areas in and adjacent to certain healthcare premises; to make provision for enforcement in respect of engaging in conduct prohibited in such safe access zones, and to provide for offences in relation to such prohibited conduct; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
Citation	No. 13 of 2024
Territorial extent	Ireland
Passed by	Dáil
Passed	15 November
Passed by	Seanad
Passed	1 May 2024
Signed by	President Michael D. Higgins
Signed	7 May 2024
Legislative history
First chamber: Dáil
Bill title	Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023
Bill citation	No. 54 of 2023
Introduced by	Minister for Health (Stephen Donnelly)
Introduced	29 January 2023
Committee responsible	Health
First reading	5 July 2023
Second reading	27 September 2023
Considered by the Health Committee	25 October 2023
Report and Final Stage	15 November 2023
Second chamber: Seanad
Second reading	14 December 2023
Considered in committee	27 February 2024
Report and Final Stage	1 May 2024
Final stages
Seanad amendments considered by the Dáil	1 May 2024
Finally passed both chambers	1 May 2024
Summary
Creates safe access zones around abortion clinics
Status: Current legislation

Background

Abortion was legalised in 2018 in Ireland through a referendum.

Abortion access remained difficult due to harassment, illegal tactics and a culture of shame related to abortion with a number of unregulated services providing false services.^[1]

The Dáil passed the bill in November 2023.^[2] The Seanad passed the bill in May 2024.^[3]

See also

• Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act (Northern Ireland) 2023

References

1. Hogan, Caelainn (3 October 2019). "Why Ireland's battle over abortion is far from over". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
2. Hosford, Paul (15 November 2023). "Legislation for 'exclusion zones' for abortion services passes through Dáil". Irish Examiner. Dublin. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
3. O'Halloran, Marie (1 May 2024). "Seanad passes Bill to prevent anti-abortion protests outside health facilities". Irish Times. Dublin. Retrieved 17 July 2024.