Sharon Keogan: Calls for Debate on Record 2024 Abortion Figures
Sharon Keogan addressed the Department of Health's 2024 abortion notifications, highlighting a record 10,852 cases and a 63% increase since 2019. She described the figure as "harrowing", urged more supports for women in unplanned pregnancies, and criticised the timing of the report's publication.
Record 2024 figures
The Department of Health's report for 2024 recorded 10,852 abortion notifications, the highest number on record. The speaker emphasised the scale of the rise and called the statistic harrowing.
Comparison with 2019
The 2024 total represents a 63% increase compared with 2019, when 6,666 abortion notifications were received. The data was presented as evidence that the abortion rate continues to rise annually.
Impact on pregnancies
The speech noted that the newly released data means that at least one in six pregnancies were reported, excluding miscarriages. The speaker said this should prompt national reflection and debate about current policy.
Support and information for women
The speaker argued that more supports are needed for women in unplanned pregnancies so no one feels she has no choice but to have an abortion. She said women considering their options should be truly given information about social welfare entitlements, parent support and adoption.
Publication timing and legal obligations
The speaker criticised the Department's late Friday publication on its website with no known press release, saying the timing limited media attention. She cited the Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018 requirement that the minister issue a report prepared by 30 June and suggested the government published to meet statutory obligations while minimising scrutiny.
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Last Friday evening the Department of Health published its report on the number of abortions notifications received for 2024. The figure totalling 10,852 is the highest yet on record. It represents a 63% increase in the abortion rate in 2024 by contrast with 2019 when there were 6,666 abortions notifications received. Put more starkly, a newly released data means that at least year one in six pregnancies were reported, excluding miscarriages. This is a harrowing statistic and something we should all reflect on. It undermines the need for serious action by the government to address the abortion rate which continues to soar so horrifying new heights annually. More supports are needed for women in unplanned pregnancies to ensure that no one feels like she has no choice but to have an abortion. We also need to ensure that a woman in an unplanned pregnancy considers her options is truly given to her options, including information about social welfare entitlements, parent support and adoption. However, I want to draw attention to the fact that the Department of Health issued a publication on its website late on Friday evening with no known associated press release. This meant that the news of the sky-high abortion figures did not receive much media attention and swiftly fell out of the news cycles. I am doubtful that this was just a coincidence. Under the health regulation of termination of Pregnancy Act 2018, the Minister is required to issue a report of the previous year's abortions notification, which is to be prepared by 30 June. It felt like the government was just publishing this important data due to the statutory obligations, but hoped it would receive as little public attention and scrutiny as possible. Indeed, the revelations of 10,852 abortions last year has not received the proper attention it deserves. This should generate a national debate about our current abortion policy and raises questions about how the government can try to reduce the aspiring abortion rate. Thank you.
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