Wed Sep 18 01:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Donnelly Pushes for Free Contraception for 16-Year-Olds, Facing Internal Opposition
**Dublin, Ireland:** Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is advocating for the expansion of free contraception to include 16-year-old girls in Budget 2025. This proposal has encountered resistance within the Department of Health, citing concerns over “medical ethics” due to the age of consent in Ireland being 17.
Donnelly argues that free contraception should be available to 16-year-olds as the state already provides abortions for girls of that age, and the age of medical independence is 16. This means that 16-year-olds can seek medical treatment without parental consent.
The proposal has received mixed reactions. Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín criticized it as “virtue signalling” and argued that it sends a “dangerously confusing message” by providing contraceptives while maintaining the age of consent at 17.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik supports the proposal, emphasizing the multifaceted uses of the contraceptive pill, including menstrual cycle management. She stresses that the age of consent for medical treatment is 16, making it logical for 16-year-olds to be able to access the pill for various health reasons.
Meanwhile, Donnelly is also pushing for expanded public funding for IVF treatment. The existing €10m allocation is criticized for restrictive eligibility criteria, and officials are reviewing these criteria.
Taoiseach Simon Harris, while not ruling out a future two-tier child benefit system, ruled out its implementation in Budget 2025. He highlighted the importance of addressing child poverty, which has seen a significant increase in recent years, but emphasized that the government has not yet made any firm decisions regarding the upcoming budget.
First Piper 