Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Senator's concern about this very complex issue. The working group highlighted that the majority of people in Ireland can and do access contraception without difficulty. Contraception use in Ireland is high and stable. This is a fact that we welcome but there are issues we need to address. At the same time, the Government is supportive of the need to expand access to contraception even further and move towards the provision of a free contraception service over time. This is reflected in the commitment made in the programme for Government. It is not a straightforward process and a number of regulatory, legal and policy issues will need to be addressed before the final parameters of a State-funded scheme are determined. The issue of access to contraception has not been forgotten. As outlined, the opposite is the case and much valuable work has been undertaken to ensure effective supports and information are available to those who need them most.