Vol. 300 No. 3
asked the Minister for Health when he will introduce a family planning Bill providing for the sale, distribution and advertisement of contraceptives in Ireland, including their free provision through the health services; and if he will give an assurance that it will not be restricted to married couples.
36.
asked the Minister for Health when he intends to introduce appropriate legislation allowing for the sale of contraceptives in this country.
37.
asked the Minister for Health when he proposes to introduce legislation to provide for family planning.
38.
asked the Minister for Health if it is the Government's policy to direct the health boards to implement full family planning services.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 35 to 38 together.
I shall, very shortly, be initiating discussions with a wide range of groups, organisations and individuals and until these discussions have been concluded I will not be in a position to make a statement about the proposed family planning legislation.
Can the Minister indicate who those discussions will be with? Will it involve a trip to Armagh?
It would not be the first time.
There are some very obvious people such as the National Health Council, the various bodies representing the profession, doctors nurses, pharmacists, social workers, the Churches, other Government Departments, the health boards and family planning associations. I would be prepared also to have a meaningful discussion with the Deputy.
Would the Minister consider having discussions on the matter with the other parties in the House?
Certainly.
This is not a laughing matter. Following the disreputable behaviour of their predecessors in office do the Government not believe that they owe it to the dignity of the House to deal with this very important matter expeditiously and bring a Bill into the House which has the approval of the full Government, including the Taoiseach?
That is our intention. Perhaps the Deputy will recognise that the decision which the Government have already taken to transfer this matter from the Department of Justice to the Department of Health is an improvement in the situation.
In view of the endless discussion this topic has had in this House, the other House and the country, while it may be boring and perhaps funny to a lot of people it is very real to a large number of young couples and another round of discussions will hardly throw much light on the matter. A decision is required now. Will the Minister give some indication when this House might be expected to make a decision? It is simply refusing to grasp the famous nettle that was referred to on an earlier occasion by going off on another round of discussions with people.
As the Deputy will recognise—this was inherent in what Deputy Browne said—it would be very helpful and valuable if we could get a consensus or as near to a consensus as possible. That is my objective in embarking on this series of discussions which I think will be very helpful to me and Deputies.
Would the Minister consider an all-party committee to meet these groups?
No. I have already indicated that we regard it as the responsibility of the Government to legislate and we intend to do that.
Why do the Government not do it?
We will do it.
May I ask the Minister if the Government are committed to bringing in such legislation?
Yes.
Would the Minister not consider that despite the fact that there is an urgent need for legislation there is considerable scope under the Health Acts for the health services and the health boards considerably to enlarge the availability of family planning methods to people? Will he take the appropriate action to ensure that they do?
In that connection I believe the health boards would submit to me that they want statutory guidance in this area.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
I wish to give notice of my intention to raise on the Adjournment the question of the Government's response to the report which they have received from Amnesty International and the terms of reference of the special review committee?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
