I will make a few key points. While we welcome this Bill, we believe that oral contraceptives should be available prescription free. The action plan does not have enough solid commitments when it comes to contraception, and essentially the barriers still exist and exclusion from the scheme is still an issue for some women. The Social Democrats welcome this Bill, which provides for pharmacists to re-prescribe certain contraceptives. However, we stand firm in the belief that oral contraceptives should be available prescription free. They are some of the safest and most thoroughly researched medications available and we must listen to the World Health Organization, to the Irish Pharmacy Union and to our own Oireachtas health committee, which have all now recommended that they be available over the counter. We understand that some medicines should only be available by prescription but there is no clinical reason for this to be the case for oral contraceptives. They are safe. They have been thoroughly studied and they are effective. The biggest issue with contraception is access. An additional hurdle of having to go to their GP means that some women simply cannot or will not access oral contraceptives, despite their wants or needs. This Bill is a welcome step to widening access, but we must think much bigger if we truly want contraception to be easily and freely available to all who need it. I also welcome the publication of the third women's health action plan yesterday, but I am concerned we are seeing a repackaging of previous announcements and little detail on the timelines or funding commitments attached to measures. We need commitment from Government that the age expansion of the free contraception scheme will happen in the lifetime of this plan. Furthermore, we need to see solid commitments on inclusive and women-centred healthcare to ensure everyone can access medications and care that meet their needs and that we are resourcing practitioners to provide that care. It is welcome that the Government has stated its intention to expand the age range for the free contraception scheme, but we need to know when that will happen. Women are delaying access to contraceptive care right now because they are anticipating being included in a public scheme. They are avoiding availing of long-term contraceptives because of high costs to get them privately and mixed messages about when they will be able to receive that care publicly. People cannot make informed decisions about their care if they are left without a clear answer as to when the scheme will be rolled out to other age groups. Caithfidh an córas athrú más mian linn freastal ar gach bean a dhéanann an rogha frithghiniúint a úsáid. Má tá baic rompu sa chóras atá againn, caithfear dul i ngleic leo. Barriers to accessing contraception remain and they are primarily shame, stigma and confidentiality. For many people, having to go to their GP and then to the pharmacy creates an insurmountable barrier. For those who lack access to transport, who live at home or who live in situations of coercive control, having to go to the GP triggers a world of questions in their lives that severely impact their right to privacy and their right to access this medication. This is doubly felt in rural areas. National Women's Council research indicated that those in cities, towns and villages were between 35% and 41% likely to use the free contraception scheme while the figure was only 26% in the countryside. The same research found rural women faced extra barriers around fear of judgment, stigma, lack of confidentiality and travel. This gap needs to be addressed. We know pharmacy prescribing and over-the-counter access is key to that. Undocumented women, asylum seekers and those in the international protection system are still excluded, despite being among the most socioeconomically disadvantaged groups and much less likely to be able to afford contraception. The current age limitation also leaves many women out despite the fact that just because you are a certain age does not mean you want to have children. Every reduction in barriers to contraception is welcome, particularly in a country that not long ago banned it completely, but we have a long way to go to ensure everyone has access.

Sentiment score: 0.19