asked the Minister for Health if he will name the organisations with whom he has conferred prior to the preparation of a Bill governing the availability of contraceptives; and the further consultation, if any, planned prior to the circulation of the Bill.

Meetings were held with

The Medico Social Research Board

The Irish Medical Association

The National Health Council

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland

The Irish Pharmaceutical Union

The Catholic Hierarchy

The Church of Ireland

The Presbyterian Church

The Methodist Church

The Jewish Representative Body

The Health Boards

The Irish Nurses Organisation

The Association of Social Workers

The Irish Family Planning Association

The Irish Family League

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions

Representatives of organisations promoting the Billings method of family planning.

No further consultations are planned.

Could we have any indication from that litany type of answer the sort of Bill we are going to get?

Is the Minister yet in a position to state if a Bill will be introduced this term?

I hope so.

Before Christmas?

That is my intention. Whatever Bill it is I am sure the Taoiseach will vote for it too.

Is that an undertaking?

I do not think the Minister can speak for the Taoiseach.

In other words, the Fianna Fáil Party are not being allowed a free vote.

No. In other words, we know our own minds.