Seanad debates
Tuesday, 1 October 2019
An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
2:30 pm
Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me in. I was watching on the monitor. I want to raise briefly the contraceptive scheme spoken about by the Minister. I anticipate there will be something in the budget on it. I hope the scheme will be universal and will include all methods of contraception. In my opinion, it will not be sufficient to allow only the contraceptive pill; long acting contraceptive methods need to be included. They cost more initially but they work out to be more cost-effective, not to mention how effective they are. I do not think we will have an opportunity to have a discussion on the matter in the House in advance of the budget but it is certainly an issue on which I hope the Minister will be successful in his negotiations with the Minister for Finance and that we will see a universal scheme introduced that can be built upon if necessary. At worst, it should be introduced incrementally. I cannot ask for the Minister to come in to discuss it because it would be too soon.
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