Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My position on this is not in any way ambiguous. I signed up fully to all the recommendations of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution and applied rigour to trying to progress a number of them working across this House and I will continue to do so. I believe contraception should be free for men and women. We should talk about men as well. It is not just a woman's issue. Men obviously have a role to play in reducing crisis pregnancies and in helping around these issues as well. We have made progress on the national condom distribution service this year.

When it comes to the female side of contraception, it will require dealing with regulatory issues, legal issues, policy issues and, possibly, fee negotiation. When the report is published, and it will be published this month, I will be very happy to debate it in this House and to talk about it at the health committee. It is my policy objective to make contraception free in 2021 and that is what I would like to see happen.

The Deputy talked about our record on some of these issues. We are also making PrEP available from 4 November. These are real, concrete steps that are taking place in regard to sexual health in our country. When it comes to female contraception, a woman's choice will be important because, as the Deputy knows, there are a variety of methods available.

See this speech in context