Job advertisement specifies that applicants must be willing to provide abortion services

THE National Maternity Hospital has advertised posts for consultants in anaesthesia, obstetrics and gynaecology for those “willing to contribute to the provision of termination of pregnancy services”.

Some Twitter users voiced their concern that the job advertisements would restrict conscientious objectors to abortion from applying for the positions.

The advertisement reads: “The post-holders will provide in-patient, on-call service and out-patient care, along with teaching, administration and management duties, which, as of 2019, includes elective termination of pregnancy services and the post-holders will be expected to contribute to this new service as part of their practice plan.”

One Twitter user went online to air his dissatisfaction.

Peter Lynas, who lists on his Twitter that he is a Northern Ireland director of the Evangelical Alliance, tweeted: “This advert makes pretty clear those with a conscientious objection should not apply – and note the irony of the (hospital) motto, life glorious life. Doubtful it is legal. No doubt it is wrong.”

Funded

While some Twitter users were displeased with the ad, others felt there was nothing out of the ordinary.

A spokesman for the National Maternity Hospital told the Irish Independent:

“These particular additional posts are being funded specifically from a financial allocation to the hospital from the HSE for the provision of termination of pregnancy services and are for individuals willing to contribute to the provision of these services.”

In December, the HSE added €12m to fund abortion services from January 1 this year as part of the National Service Plan 2019.

It announced that an extra 155 staff would be needed for the HSE to arrange termination services in line with the legislative changes.

It is understood that the hospital did not see any legal issues as it is for those applying for positions following the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.

The HSE added €12m to fund abortion services