Fórsa Education’s North Dublin North Leinster SNA branch (NDNL) has called for the full implementation of the recommendations from the abortion review and for safe access zones around all facilities providing abortion services.

At its recent meeting, the branch unanimously voted to support abortion review and safe access zones.

The branch voted unanimously to support the recent motion by People Before Profit TD Brid Smith to bring about an amendment to the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.

The bill which passed its second stage in the Dail provides that the three-day wait to access abortion medication would be removed, fully decriminalises abortion and removes the existing 14-year prison sentence that applies to medical professionals if they perform abortions outside the law.

The branch said: “It is our belief as a branch that upon voting to repeal the eighth amendment we voted to trust women. We voted for care and compassion."

"The abortion review highlighted that the current legislation is both restrictive and many of the findings of the review showed a need to revise the current legislation on the basis of the experiences and issues faced by both the medical providers providing service and those accessing them,” said the branch before arriving at its decision.”

Furthermore, the branch outlined its commitment as activists to “put pressure on the government” for the full implementation of the recommendations from the abortion review and safe access zones around all facilities providing abortion services. 

The NDNL branch also strongly welcomed a move by the government to ensure the barriers and gaps highlighted in the report are addressed.

“Nearly 70% voted to repeal the eighth amendment and we must ensure that it remains a priority of this government,” said the branch.