I welcome the Bill. We spend a lot of time inside these Houses talking about other parts of reproductive healthcare and not enough about contraception, so it is really welcome that we are having a focus and discussion on it and are moving forward with changes. On the point in relation to the eligibility piece, it is important that we expand eligibility as much as possible, and at the older age groups as well. In a reply to a parliamentary question last month, the Minister said that expanding access for 36- for 40-year-olds only costs €5 million per year and that is something that should be considered in terms of increasing the age group upwards as well. The National Women's Council report found that 31% of women experienced barriers in accessing free contraception and age limit was one of the most cited barriers there as well. It is certainly something that should be considered. It is not a huge amount of money. It would increase access and we need to expand the eligibility more broadly.

Sentiment score: 0.40

I move amendment No. 8: In page 5, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following: “Report on prescription-free oral contraceptives 4.The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on a proposal to allow registered pharmacists to dispense prescription-free oral contraceptives.”. This is an amendment looking for a report on the provision of prescription-free oral contraceptives. It calls on the Minister, within six months of the passing of the Act, to lay before Dáil Éireann a report on the proposal to allow registered pharmacists to dispense prescription-free oral contraception. While the Bill as printed allows pharmacists to represcribe certain contraceptives, we believe that oral contraceptives should be available prescription-free. The oral contraceptive pill has been around for well over half a century and is one of the safest and most well-studied medicines available. In 2019, the World Health Organization publicly stated that oral contraception should be available without needing prescription. In 2023, the Irish Pharmacy Union, IPU, told the Oireachtas health committee that there is no clinical reason for oral contraceptives to be supplied only on foot of prescription, with proper protocols in place for a very safe and effective healthcare intervention. In 2023, the health committee endorsed the IPU's call and wrote to the previous Minister for Health urging him to allow direct access to oral contraceptives through community pharmacists. Community pharmacists had been providing emergency contraception prescription-free since 2011. There is no clinical reason this should not be extended to oral contraceptives. Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals. They should be allowed to operate at the top of their licence. They are available in every community and are very accessible. They have private consulting rooms, already used for emergency contraception. If we find that a patient would benefit more from long-acting, reversible contraceptives, the patient can be referred to the GP by the pharmacist. Accepting this amendment would further alleviate pressures on already overstretched GPs. We know that the report published by the National Women's Council in April found that the survey respondents cited access to GPs as a significant barrier in accessing the free contraceptive scheme, particularly for migrants, people from rural areas and Travellers. It would also be particularly beneficial for those not eligible for the free contraception scheme. It would reduce the cost since they would not have to go to the GP. We are looking for the Minister to consider that issue and produce a report for the Dáil within six months.

Sentiment score: 0.15

We are talking about the prescription of oral contraceptives as called for by the World Health Organization, as set out by the Irish Pharmacy Union and as endorsed by the previous health committee. We are looking for a report on that with the detail of the various elements, if more detail is required. It was from that call from the IPU, endorsed by the health committee. The committee previously wrote to the Minister about access to oral contraceptives. There is a letter in the Department from the previous health committee, in 2023, setting out the detail on this. That is the call as endorsed by the IPU. Beyond that, the Minister may consider the report.

Sentiment score: 0.11

It is important that we allow pharmacists to operate at the top of their licence and give them as much power as possible, and alleviate pressures on GPs. As I said, this is recommended by the World Health Organization and endorsed by the previous health committee and the IPU. That is the background to this amendment. Many pharmacists have private spaces where they do consultations about emergency contraception. Those spaces exist. It is one that we can maybe think about and have dialogue and engagement about in future. We can think about how we make the most of pharmacists and take pressure off GPs, while doing so with the best health outcomes.

Sentiment score: 0.19