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Sexual & reproductive health

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4 items

Part of
Health
Enacted

Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026

The measure would let certain retail pharmacies offer a new prescription service for contraception, so registered pharmacists could issue prescriptions for specified contraceptive medicines and products under agreed clinical rules. It would also extend the Free Contraception Scheme to this pharmacy service, so eligible women could get it free, while also allowing private patients aged 17 to 55 who are not eligible for the scheme to use it for a fee. It matters because it should make renewing contraception prescriptions quicker, more convenient, and cheaper for many people.
Seanad

Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026: Second and Subsequent Stages

The Bill will allow pharmacists to prescribe short-acting contraception in defined circumstances, free for women aged 17 to 35 under the free contraception scheme and privately for others, while requiring an initial GP assessment and clinical safeguards. Senators across parties backed the measure as a practical way to improve access, cut costs and free up GP capacity, though several urged extension of the scheme’s age range and attention to pharmacist resourcing. The Seanad agreed to proceed to Committee and subsequent Stages immediately.
Seanad

Ann Lane and surrogacy briefing

Senator Conway wished Ann Lane well and referred to an emotional briefing on surrogacy legislation, praising the work of former Senator Mary Seery Kearney.