Health Minister Defends Plans Not To Charge Those Caught Protesting Within Safe Access Zones

Stephen Donnelly has told the Oireachtas Health Committee it's important to protect the right to protest, along with the right to access services.

If passed, the Safe Access Zones Bill would see protests banned within 100 metres of healthcare settings in order to protect people accessing services like abortions.

However, members of the Oireachtas Health Committee claim the bill is unworkable in its current form.

The plans would see protestors first given a Garda warning. If they continue to protest, it would then become an offence, for which they could be charged.

But currently, there's no official process for recording Garda warnings, with Roisin Shortall of the Social Democrats suggesting there's nothing stopping people repeatedly protesting anywhere they like.

It's led to a calls for a centralised Garda database for people who've received warnings.

Minister Donnelly satisfied members by committing to a review of the operation of the law within two years of it being passed and exploring the possibility of database then, if necessary.