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GARDA COMMISSIONER DREW Harris has said that existing public order legislation is adequate to deal with protests seen to date outside health service clinics over abortion issues.
Minister for Health Simon Harris received a letter from the Garda Commissioner on the matter following their recent meeting in the Department of Health.
The letter outlined the Garda Commissioner’s view that existing public order legislation is adequate to deal with protests seen to date at health service centres.
However, the Minister clarified to Oireachtas colleagues during a meeting today that there is no legal advice against legislating in this area.
He also outlined the work the Department is doing in this area, including examining measures undertaken in other countries.
He reiterated his intention is to work with colleagues on specific legislative proposals and invited the views of TDs and Senators in this regard.
Minister Harris committed to meeting again in two weeks to advance proposals in this regard.
In July, the Minister said that exclusion zones outside hospitals and GP surgeries will be a “major priority” in the new Dáil term.
Exclusion zones are intended to prevent protesters demonstrating within a certain distance of facilities providing abortion care.
In a statement today, Minister Harris said the next steps would be to ensure there is greater awareness of the existing powers available to the gardaí.
The statement outlined that this is underway with the Minister communicating with health service providers and the Garda Commissioner issuing a notification to all chief superintendents and superintendents.
He outlined that next steps would also be to meet with health service providers with a similar update as provided to Oireachtas members and to seek their views, and also a subsequent meeting in two weeks with Oireachtas colleagues for a further discussion to advance proposals.
With reporting by Orla Dwyer and Christina Finn
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Seen a couple of pics from slane. Let’s just leave it at would be mortified!
Despite the pictures you speak of not appearing in the headlines you still feel it necessary to continue the humiliation of that young girl, The actions of some people over the last two days have been atrocious. You would swear no one in this country made a mistake by the reaction.
Getting down on your knees for two lads in front of thousands is a bit more than a mistake. Why shouldn’t we be allowed to have a chuckle at it?
You could laugh at the girl and then again you could show some class and strength of character but instead you decide to be part of an execution squad who’s sole purpose in humiliation.
Ah yes. It’s us humiliating her. We forced her onto her knees in front of 70, 000 people. We should be ashamed of ourselves.
Because two wrongs always make a right, eh?
Exactly Emmet. It was all laugh at that young lad at the races that was so drunk he couldn’t get up the little hill
It sucks to her her
Hahahahahahaha
*be
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