Tuesday 7 December, 2021
It was announced this week that the contraceptive pill will be free of charge for women in the 17-25 age cohort.
Director of the National Women’s Council, Orla O’Connor says while this week’s announcement is welcome, we must move fast to provide universal contraception.
The health minister said the roll out of such a measure would’ve been ‘unthinkable to do in the past’.
The roll out of free contraception to women aged between 17 and 25 was announced today.
Two GP appointments per year relating to contraception will also be free.
The roll out of free contraception is key promise in the programme for government.
Andrew Sabisky once suggested enforcing the uptake of contraception to stop unplanned pregnancies “creating a permanent underclass”.
Where do the parties stand on issues like maternity and infant services, contraception and IVF?
A number of talks by Jason Evert had already been cancelled amid criticism of his stance on homosexuality and other issues.
The pill sits in the stomach and dissolves slowly, releasing the hormones required to prevent pregnancy.
A recent report recommends that free contraception rollout should target young women first.
Making contraception free for everyone could be “an ineffective use of scarce resources”, a report has found.
The health minister said women are facing significant costs paying for sanitary products.
The idea is backed by Minister for Health Simon Harris.
Currently,13.5% VAT applies to condoms, but the minister wants this brought down to 0%.
A working group on the matter was established by government earlier this year.
May McGee’s fight to overturn Ireland’s ban on contraception is the subject of a documentary on RTÉ One this evening.
Taking folic acid every day helps prevent your unborn baby from developing serious and possibly fatal conditions.
The group will examine the extent to which cost is a barrier to accessing reliable methods of contraception in Ireland.
People with outside expertise will sit on the new group, with a chairperson to be appointed shortly.
Previous trials have shown some success
And why we should investigate our options first.
The Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment recommended free contraception for all women.
Research shows the break provides no health benefit.
It was estimated that over 70,000 women would be affecting by the repeal of the Obama-era provision.
It was incomprehensible to me that I would ever intentionally harm such a vital part of my body. I’d sooner lose a leg, writes Eric Nolan.
This condom was more likely to retain its “slipperiness”, researchers found.
As part of this year’s budget talks, the minister plans to increase the availability of free condoms.
Currently they have a VAT rate of 13.5%.
Fianna Fáil has added to calls to make the pill more freely available.
Mary Mitchell O’Conner said she agreed with the health minister that religion should not determine health and social policy in Ireland.
Consideration is also being given to the extension of the provision of the morning-after pill.
To say that people will use it as a contraceptive is to imply that you don’t trust people in general and that they should be punished for mistakes.
Doctors say they’re best placed to prescribe contraception, but pharmacists say they can play a key role.
The minister plans to expand access to barrier contraception.
It has emerged that proposals are being drawn up to consider the ‘nature and scope’ of free contraception for Irish citizens.
Minister Harris said work to consider the costs and other implications is continuing within his department.
The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) says there is a ‘compelling rationale’ for the introduction of free birth control for women.
Former Supreme Court justice Donal Barrington died this week at the age of 89.
