Press Release- Bríd Smith TD, People Before Profit
20/09/2018
Immediate Release
People Before Profit TD condemns Minister’s plan to impose 3-day waiting period for abortion service
People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith has questioned why the Minister for Health would not listen to the recommendations of doctors such as Peter Boylan that the three day waiting period for abortion services is ‘demeaning’ and unnecessary. She urged people to attend the annual March for Choice to send a message to the Government and others that delays and attempts to water down legislation will not be accepted.
The TD said that she agreed with Dr Boylan and others at yesterday’s Dáil Health committee and wondered why the Minister for Health would go against what the medical profession is saying regarding the proposed waiting period in the abortion legislation.
“The proposal for a waiting period comes across like a ‘cooling off period’ as if the pregnant person has not been thinking about their crisis pregnancy every minute of every day. These three days are on top of any other delay they may face in accessing a GP, or in dealing with a GP who invokes conscientious objection to refuse to treat them. We didn’t win repeal to accept weak and demeaning legislation.”
The TD said that the annual March for Choice on September 29th in Dublin would be an opportunity for people to demonstrate again their support for free, safe and legal abortion rights.
“The bigger the numbers marching on Sept 29th in Dublin, the louder the message to the Minister and others that we won’t accept any delays or obstacles in accessing abortion rights in this country
“I totally agree with Dr Boylan when he says that this is totally demeaning to women.”
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