Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether the morning after pill should be made available without prescription; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35534/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The morning after pill is currently confined to prescription control in accordance with the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, as amended. In order for this product to be available without a prescription, the licence holder would have to initiate the process by making an application to the Irish Medicines Board and would also need to make a simultaneous application to the Department of Health and Children to amend the above mentioned Regulations.

An application to change the status of the morning after pill would be assessed by the Irish Medicines Board and a decision could only be taken having reviewed all the scientific data on the risks and benefits of the wider availability of this product.