Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I shall return to the recommendation made by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. On numerous occasions the Minister for Health has said he fully supports the recommendation made by the joint committee and its call for contraception to be made available free of charge. Work on the legislation is ongoing, particularly since the passing of the referendum. I do not have information from the Department of Health with me, but I assure the Senator that the Department is introducing a new health and well-being programme into all primary and secondary schools. Two new booklets, one of which is entitled, Tom's Flower Power: A gentle explanation of how babies are born, were launched a few weeks ago. Such education is provided for young people in primary school. I also assure the Senator that the Department of Education and Skills is doing a lot of work at primary, second and third levels, although I do not have a comprehensive reply for him from it. I promise, however, that I will ask the Minister to convey to him what the Department is doing. I shall reiterate what the Minister for Health has said. He has clearly said he will follow the recommendations made by the joint committee. However, it will take some time to put in place some of the measures recommended, some of which are legislative. We are at the beginning of the process which will continue for the next couple of months.