Activists are calling on Simon Harris to introduce promised 'exclusion zones' after repeated protests took place outside abortion clinics this weekend.

Harris promised shortly after last year's referendum result signalling the legalisation of abortion that 'exclusion zones' would be introduced.

The Minister for Health promised at the time that there would be no imitation of protest scenes outside abortion clinics like those seen in the United States.

It was understood that these restricted zones would take a little while to implement, not coming into effect until after clinics first opened, but after this weekend's actions, activists are calling for a hurried approach to having the restrictions in place.


A group of protestors lined out outside St Luke’s General Hospital in Graiguenamanagh this weekend, making it the second protest at this location since abortions were being offered there.

The group carried placards with statements like "Doctors save lives not end them" and "Say no to Abortion in Graiguenamanagh".

At roughly the same time, protestors in Bundoran lined out for the second time outside a GP's clinic who was offering the services.

"Another successful National #peaceful7 Outreach in Bundoran today - much support...loads of horns beeping," one Bundoran pro-life activist wrote on Twitter.

A Kilkenny pro-choice group, Kilkenny for Choice issued a statement saying, “Pregnant people need support and privacy, not intimidation and harassment. (We need) safe zones now."

Both protests took place on Saturday, while nurses and midwives marched the streets of Dublin in demand of better pay and conditions.