HOWLIN CALLS FOR CROSS PARTY SUPPORT FOR ROGUE CRISIS PREGNANCY AGENCY BILL

13 November 2016



Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Brexit, Northern Ireland and Justice Statement by Brendan Howlin TD

Labour Party leader, Brendan Howlin, is appealing to the Government and all political parties in Dáil Éireann to support legislation designed to tackle the behaviour of rogue crisis pregnancy agencies.

The Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2016, which was introduced by Deputy Howlin to the Dáil on the 19th October, has now been selected for debate during Private Members’ time next Thursday, 17th November. The Bill would for the first time, require that those who provide counselling to women experiencing crisis pregnancies be registered and regulated.

The issue is something Labour Women and other groupings have campaigned on for nearly a decade and was highlighted once more earlier this year by two brave young journalists who went undercover to reveal the true extent of what is happening in these agencies.

Deputy Howlin said:“I have written to the leaders of all political parties and groupings in Leinster House, to appeal for their support for the Labour Party’s Bill, which is crucial to ensuring that women at a time of exceptional vulnerability, are given the accurate and impartial information they not only deserve, but are entitled to.

“We have heard frightening tales of how women in crisis pregnancy situations have been told that abortion increases their risk of breast cancer, or that those who have had abortions may later go on to be abusers.

“For too long these agencies have been allowed to lie to women in the most grotesque fashion, and it’s time we worked together on all sides of the House to put an end to this abuse.

"I hope that the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, will recognise the need to legislate to protect these women during the most difficult of times."

ENDS