Minister for Health Mary Harney has no plans to draft legislation to deter rogue crisis pregnancy agencies from operating in Ireland despite a call from two leading agencies for the Government to act immediately to introduce protective regulations.
"No, there are no plans for legislation in that area . . . There will always be people involved in giving inappropriate advice. You cannot legislate against that," she told reporters yesterday.
Ms Harney was reacting to a radio documentary on Newstalk 106 which detailed the experience of an undercover reporter who was given false and misleading information on abortion by a bogus crisis pregnancy agency in an effort to persuade her not to have a termination. Ms Harney said legislation was not necessary as the Crisis Pregnancy Agency "do a terrific job in ensuring that the bodies that they fund honour the responsibilities that they have".
However, the Well Woman agency said Ms Harney's response was "worrying". Well Woman's chief executive, Alison Begas, said rogue agencies continued to operate in a vacuum, without any regulation or accountability.
The Irish Family Planning Association also called for immediate political action.
"The Government should draft regulations for all pregnancy advice and counselling services," the association said in a statement.