asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that contraceptives are being advertised for sale in MIMS; and the action if any, it is intended to take bearing in mind the provisions of section 17 (1) of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1935.

The question implies that the advertisements are in breach of the law. I wish to make it clear for the record that I am not to be taken either as accepting or as commenting in any way on that as it is not a matter in which I as Minister for Justice have any function. On the question of possible action, I am informed by the Garda authorities that, on the basis of a decision given by the Director of Public Prosecutions in a previous similar case, the gardaí do not propose to take any action in relation to the advertisements mentioned.