I move amendment No. 2:
In page 2, before section 3, to insert the following new section:
"3.—(1) Section 2 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of the following for paragraph (a):
`(a) provide a comprehensive family planning service,'.
(2) Section 2 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the addition of the following:
`(c) provide in consultation with the Minister for Education, a Health Education Programme, involving parents and educators, which would seek to promote an understanding and appreciation of responsible sexuality.'.".
Essentially, the purpose of this amendment is to try to bring the 1979 Act into a more acceptable modern context. Section 2 of the 1979 Act provides that the Minister shall secure the orderly organisation of family planning services and provide a comprehensive natural family planning service. The distinction in the original Bill between family planning services and natural family planning services is not appropriate. It can only be interpreted as a sectarian provision in that it indicates a particular view in regard to family planning. My amendment proposes that the Minister should be obliged to provide all types of family planning services that are appropriate and lawful. I believe that principle is supported on all sides of the House. The Minister should take the opportunity in this Family Planning Bill to deal with this issue as it is unlikely that this Bill will be back in the House for many years. I take it that the purpose of the Minister's amendment is along similar lines, but I would like him to explain it.
The second part of my amendment calls on the Minister to provide, in consultation with the Minister for Education, a health education programme, involving parents and educators, which would seek to promote an understanding and appreciation of responsible sexuality. It is clear that many young people are coming under peer pressure to enter into sexual relationships at a very young age without a proper understanding of what is involved in the commitment they are making. Therefore it is appropriate, when we are introducing legislation to liberalise the availability of condoms, that we should at the same time put down a marker that we want to see our young people much better equipped coming out of the education system — as I said yesterday, equipped with the ability to say "no" to sexual advances if they do not want to make such a commitment. If we can promote greater self-respect and respect for partners we could also be tackling the public health problem which the Minister and all Members are so keen to address. I hope the Minister will accept that we do not have an adequate programme to equip our young people in this vital area of their lives. We should, at this juncture, avail of the opportunity to provide a legislative framework under which the Minister for Health, with his colleague, the Minister for Education, would put together an effective programme that is appropriate to the age of the children. That is the purpose of this amendment.