‘Vulgar’ anti-abortion images at maternity hospitals could be met with exclusion zones

Restrictions are being considered to protect people from graphic anti-abortion images at Irish maternity hospitals.

Minister for Health Simon Harris has said that it is a "great concern" that women availing of maternity services are being forced to look at these images. This comes after Dublin's Rotunda hospital tweeted a warning that an anti-abortion group were at the building's front entrance "displaying posters that may be distressing." https://twitter.com/RotundaHospital/status/1006900998659436545 Harris has suggested that exclusion zones at maternity hospitals should be considered to combat the issue. He told the Dáil:

“I’m determined to do something about this in terms of exclusion zones. “Women need to use our maternity services and they need to be able to use them in a way that is not in any way impeded by people carrying out protests."

The minister also lamented that the Rotunda had to issue a warning to anyone entering or leaving the hospital. He said: