Fiona O'Malley (Dún Laoghaire, Progressive Democrats)

Sex and sexuality are core dimensions of the human experience and are important contributors to our general well-being. In Ireland sex is a topic much speculated on and eloquently written about by many of our literary giants. We have, however, been remarkably, if not surprisingly, short of evidence about matters sexual on which to design services in education, according to the two authors of the report on the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships who opened an article in yesterday's The Irish Times. The report makes us very much aware that this is the first time such a comprehensive study into attitudes to sexual activity and relationships has been undertaken in Ireland. It certainly deserves a serious response in terms of policy direction from the Government.

Chief among the important findings of the report is the extent to which attitudes to sex generally and sexual relationships in particular have changed in the past 30 years. Irish people's attitudes are now far more in line with those of continental Europe and a more liberal and tolerant attitude to sex and sexuality prevails, which is healthy. Just 6% of the 7,500 people surveyed think that pre-marital sex is wrong. In 1973 that figure was 71%. Equally telling is the fact that 64% of the sample believe that abortion is acceptable in some circumstances and this is something of which we, as public policy makers, need to be cognisant.

Sex education in schools is now far more accepted than ever before and 92% of those surveyed supported sex education for young people on the subjects of sexual intercourse, sexual feelings, contraception, safer sex and homosexuality. The report also dwells on the high level of risky behaviour in which young people engage and to this I will address the rest of my contribution. It is nothing short of a scandal that the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases in Ireland increased by over 240% in the years between 1998 and 2003. This is, by any standard, a major public health problem.

The implications of the spiralling growth in sexually transmitted diseases for the future population are worrying indeed. Untreated, some sexually transmitted diseases can lead to infertility and this is something we need to address. Equally, in the first six months of 2005 over 140 new cases of HIV were recorded and, as far as we know, they might be only the tip of the iceberg. Nowadays young people are very well informed about the dangers of HIV and AIDS and the protections they need to take to avoid contracting such conditions. The report highlighted that the cost and availability of contraceptives was a problem, in particular for young people. Some 15% of the people surveyed indicated that cost was an issue in the use of condoms. I am sure the Minister will agree, and I have spoken with the senior Minister in the Department, that, given the147 new instances of HIV and AIDS, it is something with which we will have to deal in the budget.

As the Minister will know, condoms are VAT-rated at the 21% rate for luxury items. None of us can continue to consider a medical device which offers protection against infection a luxury item. At the very least I call on the Minister for Health and Children and the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children to persuade the Minister for Finance, at a minimum, to reduce the VAT rate on condoms from 21%. It is a joke to consider them luxury items.

I hope public policy will reflect the modern attitudes to sex and sexuality in Ireland.

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