Government under fire on condoms plan

August 1991

THE Government has come under fire from a number of Kerry Southern Health Board members for its decision to give health boards the power of determining which outlets will be allowed sell condoms to over-17s.

Under the legislation, the health boards will have the discretion to grant licences to shops, pubs, youth clubs, dance halls and discos.

“The people who made the legislation on age had no right to saddle the Southern Health Board with the final decision,” Pianna Fail Councillor Jackie Healy-Rae said.

“The age limit is a disaster anyway. Whatever goes wrong, the SHB will get the blame for it.”

Councillor Healy-Rae said he doubted very much if the SHB would allow condoms to be sold in all the outlets listed as being acceptable by the Government.

Fine Gael Councillor and publican, Bobby _O’Connell accused the Government of “passing the buck” on the issue. “They’re shirking this one because of a fear of a backlash from the middle-aged to the older voters.”

Councillor O’Connell pointed out that anomalies could arise where neighbouring boards took different approaches. “Some fellow drinking in a pub in Knocknagoshel could buy them while they mightn’t be available in Abbeyfeale,” he said. He added that as a publican he was against licenses being issued to pubs for condom sales.

Tralee Councillor Tommy Foley (Ind.) also criticised the Government decision. “I think it should be a national decision by the appropriate minister,” he said. “I think it’s a kind of a mickey mouse thing to divide it around the health boards. The country is too small for that.”

South Kerry FF TD John O’Donoghue came out in favour of the Government decision. “The boards have a lot of duties in this regard already,” he said. “They are involved already in grantaiding family planning centres. I think it’s merely an extension of these powers.”

Deputy O’Donoghue said the board would take a very responsible approach and wouldn’t do ‘anything silly’. He said people who will be given licences would be vetted very carefully.

“For some reason, there’s this belief that all of the young people of Ireland want to get a hold of these condoms,” Deputy O’Donoghue said. ‘The young people of Ireland are responsible. There is a minority who need protection.’