I was referring to a person under the age of 17 who can acquire condoms if he or she has obtained a prescription from a registered medical practitioner. This is not practicable in all circumstances. I disagree with Senator Dardis on the question of embarrassment. The embarrassment factor is extremely important. Not just people of my generation but younger people are embarrassed at the prospect of going to a doctor or talking to their parents about this matter and they may very well not acquire these contraceptives even when they need them.
Earlier I cited today's edition of the Evening Herald which published a survey of the sexual practices of young people. A young person is quoted as saying that he would use a condom but only if it was easily and freely available. Under no circumstances would he go to a chemist shop to get one because he would feel embarrassed. He said he would prefer to take the risk. I imagine the risk of which this person was talking was the risk of pregnancy to his girlfriend, but I imagine that he would also be aware of the considerable risk in not using the appropriate protection against disease.
I was extremely interested in what the Minister said and in the tone of his contribution. If one decoded it, he seemed to be saying that there has been a progression since 1979 when a Bill was introduced which was described as an Irish solution to an Irish problem. Then we moved to 1985 when there was a further degree of advance and liberalisation. In 1992 it is being pushed a little further and within a short space of time we may be able to deal with this matter in a more far-reaching manner. In 1979 we were dealing with a situation which was a result of a constitutional action. The climate was substantially different. Even I am saying things in 1992 which I would not have dreamt of saying in 1979. The context has changed very radically in this area because of the impact of disease. We must bear this in mind.
One would, of course, wish the Minister well in dealing with elements within Government who are not as yet able to take so progressive a view, perhaps because their minds are directed towards other areas which are critical to the Government of Ireland. If this Seanad can do anything to place at the Minister's disposal serious, cogent, well-argued cases for the Government to think again, then the Seanad will have performed its function. Some of us, including the Minister and I, have regrettably and tragically had direct access to the effect of this disease. I wish I had the eloquence of the man I visited on his death bed last Tuesday to present the evidence. I do not believe there is anybody inside or outside this House who is inhuman enough not to take every possible precaution to ensure that that unfortunate but wonderful man's death is not unnecessarily repeated in other cases.