I raise the legislation for the provision of abortion and in particular the need for access for people in the North. That need has been highlighted by events in Belfast in the last few minutes, where the PSNI has intervened to confiscate abortion pills and a drone that was due to be used for the distribution of abortion pills by ROSA, for Reproductive rights, against Oppression, Sexism & Austerity, activists. Deputy Ruth Coppinger is present there. The authorities and established parties in the North have all opposed the extension of abortion rights. I say to them that repression will not work and will not stop women who need to access abortion services from accessing pills through services like Women on Web. Repression will not stop activists fighting for abortion rights. As was true of the South, it will not succeed in stopping a movement to achieve abortion rights.

Does the Deputy have a question?

Yes, on the legislation for the provision of abortion.

The Minister, Deputy Harris, has been very clear that he wants to bring legislation forward as quickly as possible. That legislation will be consistent with what the Government committed to before we asked the people to vote on this issue. We hope to have a draft Bill published before we break up for the summer. In fact, we hope to have Second Stage concluded before then, so that the Oireachtas committee can deal with the detail of Committee Stage during the summer months.

On the issue of Northern Ireland, we have a very positive North-South relationship on health co-operation. I suspect that women in Northern Ireland will be able to travel freely South across the Border, where our laws will apply, just as many Irish women have been travelling to mainland Britain to have their healthcare needs met for decades. While many of us would like to see legislative change in a number of areas in Northern Ireland, we have to respect the decisions that the devolved Government has made there.