Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026: Second and Subsequent Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-16
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Pauline Tully (SF), Cultural and Educational Panel

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire chuig an Seanad. I welcome the Bill. We will be fully supporting it. It makes sense. It will reduce barriers for women and make access to contraception easier, which is always going to be welcome. It will also ease pressure on primary care. It is a welcome step in the expansion of community pharmacy and women’s healthcare services.
The free contraception scheme is still limited to women aged 17 to 35. The scheme should be reformed to cover all hormone therapy for all women and girls from adolescence through to and beyond menopause, and not restricted to those within certain age brackets.
Women's health is not embedded as a core service across primary and community care services. I acknowledge that there have been huge improvements on what is available for women, compared with a few years ago when there was nothing, but still far too often conditions affecting women are seen as a specialty or mystery when there is a range of supports and advice that women could receive through primary and community care services. A structured approach is needed to drive improvements in care for women in their local communities.
Sinn Féin has proposed a structured women's healthcare scheme in primary care, which would include general practice, pharmacy, nursing and allied primary care professions. The scheme would ensure appropriate support for women and girls at every stage of their life. Current services and supports are somewhat disjointed and can be costly. I welcome the Bill and will be supporting it.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:52:17+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-16