President Michael D. Higgins signs Safe Access Zones bill into law

The safe access zone bill has been signed into law by President Michael D. Higgins today.

The legislation will create safe access zones around abortion providers. Anyone who repeatedly protests outside such facilities could face a fine of up to €2,500.

The law will introduce 100-metre exclusion zones around all hospitals, GP practices and family planning clinics.

Speaking on the bill last week, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said he looked forward to its delivery  “as soon as possible”.

“The fundamental premise of this Bill is about respect. It is about dignity. It is about ensuring that people can access healthcare services and feel safe and not be intimidated,” Donnelly said.

“I have listened to women, to families, to health care professionals who unequivocally expressed their support for this Bill.

“I am pleased that we have reached this milestone.”

The bill has been received broadly positively by both activists and politicians, with the Women Council of Ireland saying that it will allow "women to access healthcare in dignity".

Annie Hoey, Labour senator and a member of the Oireachtas health committee, said the passage of the safe access zones legislation is a “momentous occasion”.

She reflected saying: “Unfortunately, we have seen a huge number of awful incidents outside of maternity hospitals and GP clinics where women and pregnant people have been intimidated or verbally abused".

She warned that there has been intimidatory behaviour to some GPs, particularly in rural areas and said that some doctors: "have opted not to provide abortion services as a result".