Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
1110. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health whether any audits or compliance checks have been carried out on the accuracy and completeness of notifications submitted under section 20 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; the findings of any such audits; and the number of instances, if any, where sanctions were applied for non-compliance [34619/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 20 (1) of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, a notification of each termination of pregnancy carried out under the legislation must be notified to the Minister for Health within 28 days of it being carried out. Section 20, subsections (3) and (4), require the Minister to prepare a report on the notifications received in a given year not later than 30 June the following year and thereafter to lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas and arrange for its publication.
The notifications are recorded on the form entitled “Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (Notifications) Regulations 2018” (Statutory Instrument No. 597 of 2018). The following information is included in the form:
• Medical Council registration number of the medical practitioner who carried out the termination of pregnancy.
• The section of the Act under which the termination was carried out, i.e., section 9, 10, 11 or 12.
• Medical Council registration number(s) of the medical practitioner(s) who made the certification concerned.
• The county of residence, or place of residence (where the woman resides outside of the State)
• The date on which the termination of pregnancy was carried out.
Audits are done on the inputted data internally in the Department, and there is regular engagement with service providers through the HSE to ensure, as far as practical, accuracy and compliance.
