Abortion censorship zones now in force across Ireland

The Republic of Ireland has implemented censorship zones legislation banning prayer and offers of help to pregnant women outside abortion centres.

All locations where abortions take place, including GP surgeries, now have surrounding 100m zones criminalising anyone who hands out pro-life literature or speaks to anyone about abortion. This applies to houses and churches bordering public spaces, banning such activities from gardens, doorways or windows.

Under the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Act 2024, those who continue their conduct after being informed that it is prohibited may be fined or imprisoned up to six months.

‘Abortion is not safe’

In approving the Bill earlier this year, the Seanad rejected repeated attempts by Senator Mullen and Senator Keogan to introduce freedom of speech protections.

During the debate, Senator Mullen said: “It is quite clear that this legislation is unprecedented. It interferes with normal freedom of expression in a very surprising and unexpected way.”

He was critical of the way the legislation had been pushed through by the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD, saying: “He has praised his officials for working night and day on an agenda to deprive the basic freedom of witnessing the dignity of every human life born and unborn.

“There is nothing safe about safe access zones. There is nothing safe about what happens to the unborn child in an abortion situation.”

Thousands

According to the most recent figures, the number of abortions in Ireland reached a record high last year.

The Department of Health reported that 10,033 abortions were carried out in 2023, 23 per cent more than the previous year. The majority (98 per cent) were performed before twelve weeks, while 129 babies were aborted because doctors thought they were ‘likely to die’. Just 28 abortions were performed to prevent a risk to life or “serious harm” to the mother’s health.

Overall, abortions have rocketed by 250 per cent since the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 repealed the Republic’s pro-life laws five years ago.