An official at the Department of Health has said that anti-abortion protests outside termination of pregnancy services are having a "chill effect" on medical practitioners.
Assistant Secretary at the Department of Health Muiris O'Connor told the Oireachtas Committee on Health that "fear of protest is harming the roll-out of services and just an eighth of GPs are providing abortion services".
A bill is currently being drafted to provide safe access zones at clinics and is expected to be published by the end of the year.
Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall told the committee the frequency of the protests is disturbing. She said just 413 GPs and 11 out of 19 hospitals are providing abortion services, so "we have a very long way to go in terms of provision of services".
Mr O'Connor said the protests disproportionately affect the most vulnerable in society, adding that the Department is mindful of the distress, anxiety and damage being done to the health and well-being of people.
Bioethics adviser to the Department of Health Caitriona Mason told the committee that there are some concerns with the "implementability" of the powers in the Heads of Bill, and said they are currently involved in intensive talks with the Attorney General's Office and An Garda Síochána around policing.
She said they have to be aware of the "proportionality" of the legislation and penalties, recognising there are "countervailing rights such as freedom of assembly and freedom of expression".
She said they have not yet agreed on what the higher end of the penalties will be, but the policing response will be a graduated one.
Sinn Féin's David Cullinane suggested representatives from An Garda Síochána should be invited to appear before the committee.
"There is consensus on the purpose of the Bill and its intent. But one area we need to get right is policing. We need to hear from gardaí if they believe the powers are enforceable. I would be concerned if we are too broad with our terms we could get into difficulty," he said.
Bríd Smith of People Before Profit/Solidarity criticised the delay in drawing up the legislation.
She said almost four years after the introduction of abortion there needs to be an urgency to the drafting of the legislation providing for safe access zones. She said many other countries have similar legislation in place.
She said there is also a need to make sure industrial relations activity is not curtailed as a result of the bill.
Caitriona Mason said the Department has sought legal advice to ensure strikes and other forms of protest are not impacted.
