Contraception: … To a Responsible Sexuality for All

Abstract

Fianna Fáil regained power in June 1977 with a majority of 20 seats. The Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, announced the intention of his government to introduce a law on family planning, and the task was given to Charles Haughey, Minister for Health, who took 18 months to finalise the draft bill. In the meantime, the militants against contraception had not remained inactive. As early as 1976, they brandished the motto ‘contraception now, abortion next’ and began to go round church halls and schools with foetuses in jars.¹ Irish newspapers now reported the official number of Irish women going to Britain for an abortion, and the IFPA had two calls a week from women wanting information about abortions abroad. The amalgamation was easy, but interestingly enough, it was also used by the pro-contraception militants who argued that a legal and informed contraception service would reduce the number of abortions.