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talking about the prescription of oral contraceptives as called for by the World Health Organization, as set out by the Irish Pharmacy Union and as endorsed by the previous health committee. We are looking for a report on that with the detail of the various elements, if more … from that call from the IPU, endorsed by the health committee. The committee previously wrote to the Minister about access to oral contraceptives. There is a letter in the Department from the previous health committee, in 2023, setting out the detail on this. That is the call

hour) - Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 (Amendments from the Seanad) (to conclude within 3 hours) - Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to conclude within 30 minutes) - Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann … include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration; 6. the proceedings on Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026 Committee and remaining Stages shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after

treat ambulatory gynaecology clinics; opened regional and two supraregional endometriosis hubs and launched a national endometriosis framework; launched and expanded the free contraception scheme; launched the free HRT arrangement; launched a State-funded assisted human reproduction treatment scheme; provided period dignity grant schemes to support community measures … prevention and social inclusion, and, of course, prioritising care for more serious conditions, including endometriosis. It also includes further expansion of the free contraception scheme and its integration into wider sexual and reproductive health supports is a key element of the third action plan, and this Bill

selected by Social Democrats. Thursday's business shall be: - Statements on Dementia (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes) - Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude after the first round, not to exceed 1 hour and 52 minutes … exceed 10 minutes; and (c) members may share time; and 3. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the first speaking

which seeks to expand that role. This gives us the opportunity to expand the role of pharmacists in areas such as bowel screening, contraception, prescribing and medicines optimisation. Pharmacies also have an important role in improving access to contraception through the national condom distribution services. Crucially, they also

December 2024; — cost barriers associated with healthcare being reduced through the abolition of inpatient charges, the introduction of the free contraception scheme, and the expansion of access to free general practitioner care to over 670,000 people, making healthcare more affordable for individuals and families; — Ireland performing well … hospital extensions, new primary care centres and community nursing units across the country; the abolition of inpatient charges, the introduction of the free contraception scheme and the expansion of access to free GP care to more than 670,000 people; significant upgrades to Ireland’s national road network

approximately €180 million in specific funding. There are four additional postnatal hubs, bringing the national network to 13. We have the free contraception scheme. There are also see-and-treat ambulatory gynaecology clinics, of which there are now 19 across the country, established in rapid time. There

Taoiseach to reflect on some of his remarks. I welcome some of the changes that were made, including the expansion of the contraception scheme. We would have gone further but welcome the changes. The health committee discussed the shingles vaccine, and I welcome the changes there. In terms

hours services across the six health regions; better access to dental and orthodontic care for children; and expansions in access to free contraception, providing eligibility to people aged up to 37. Budget 2027 provides for a record level of investment in mental health, delivering: increased resourcing for early

months, the introduction of the common conditions service and the passage of a Bill to allow for pharmacists to represcribe certain contraceptives and I understand that the Department is finally on course to appoint its first Chief Pharmaceutical Officer

ordination is not there. Women’s health is obviously a very important issue for the Minister, as it is for me. The contraception prescribing service that will operate from early next year will be wonderful. However, to repeat myself

healthcare professionals, with clear referral pathways and better communication for everyone. I also welcome the legislation that enables pharmacists to prescribe contraception. Its implementation offers an opportunity to make care more accessible and convenient for women. We should ensure that participating pharmacies are supported and that women understand

properly and appropriately trained team. Pharmacists also have a health promotion role, involvement in bowel screening and will soon be able to prescribe contraceptives. I will pick up on a point made by Deputy Cullinane about the potential for chronic disease projects going forward. That is something

Seanad Éireann has passed the Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026, without amendment. Seanad Éireann has passed the Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026, without amendment

month. We did this progressively over the past number of years. We have funded diagnostic scans now for patients. We have introduced free contraception for women up to the age of 35. We are publicly funding assisted human reproduction, including IVF, and free

thank the Deputy. I confess that we were not exactly clear on the nature of the contraceptives overall. Can I just clarify whether the Deputy is referring to progesterone only or combined, or simply the initial access in the pharmacy

health committee and the IPU. That is the background to this amendment. Many pharmacists have private spaces where they do consultations about emergency contraception. Those spaces exist. It is one that we can maybe think about and have dialogue and engagement about in future. We can think about

support postmasters, the Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2026 or the Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026. Notwithstanding the fact that everything they have raised is important, we have prioritised legislation this week

universal childcare subsidy. There is a €280 new baby grant. Hospital inpatient charges were abolished. We have expanded free GP care and free contraception and we have done much more than that. In the forthcoming budget, we are going to focus very much on the child poverty question

level, expansion of free hot school meals, universal childcare subsidy, €280 new baby grant, hospital inpatient charges abolished, expanded free GP care, free contraception for 17- to 35-year-olds, free HRT. I could go on in terms of the interventions the Government has done to create

than the one I grew up in, but we had to fight every step of the way for what we have. From the contraception trains in the 1970s, the campaign against the eighth amendment in the 1980s, criminalisation in the 1990s, right up to the campaign for women

childcare and look again at what we can do in healthcare. Can we add to measures we have taken previously with HRT, free contraception and so on? If the Deputy wants to blow everything today and spend €2 billion or €3 billion now, she might come back

benefit from the fuel allowance. We brought in the working family payment within that. We have done very effective, targeted measures, including free contraception, HRT, and going right through the health services

previous one, there has been a massive emphasis on women's healthcare and making it a priority in terms of menopause care, contraception, maternity services and conditions like endometriosis. We need to continue investing more in those areas. My mother practices as a GP in rural County Galway

rights, trade union rights, economic changes and in every area of politics. In recent decades women have fought in the campaigns for divorce, contraception and gender equality. We need to acknowledge the cruel manner in which girls and young women were treated in Ireland, particularly in industrial schools

Department has undertaken an equality impact assessment under the public sector equality and human rights duty in relation to the free contraception scheme; if she will outline the outcome of that assessment; and if she will address concerns that the current age-based eligibility criteria may constitute indirect

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has examined whether restricting access to free contraception to women aged 17–35 is compatible with the Equal Status Acts and the public sector equality and human rights duty. [59167/25

Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health the details for the basis on which women aged over 35 are excluded from the free contraception scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43789/25

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the reason the copper coil is not covered under the free contraception scheme; if she plans on making it free in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38866/25

Clarke asked the Minister for Health the clinical or policy grounds the copper coil was excluded from the initial rollout of the free contraception scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38867/25

Clarke asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to ensure migrant women, including those in direct provision, can access the free contraception scheme without barriers related to GP registration, language, documentation status and other related issues. [38890/25

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reason the mini-TT 380 copper coil is not included in the free contraceptive scheme; if this coil has not been included as a reimbursable items due to a clinical concern or due to the lack of an application

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of introducing a fully funded universal contraception scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35677/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health the basis of excluding women over the age of 35 from accessing the free contraception scheme. [34921/25

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the number of appointments available per year under the free contraception scheme. [31845/25

Minister for Health whether an additional consultation is provided free of charge when a person needs to review her prescription under the free contraception scheme. [31846/25

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of expanding the free contraception scheme to cover all women. [28746/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health the basis upon which the free contraception scheme excludes those aged over 35; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21598/25

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if she will deliver a genuinely free hormone replacement therapy scheme similar to the universal contraception scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10082/25

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the extension of access to free contraception as committed to under the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8997/25

enabled to provide these services directly to people who require them, on a similar basis to the scheme for long-acting reversible contraception; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8644/25

Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health her plans to expand the age cohorts included under the free contraception scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2837/25