A motion was passed at this week's meeting of Monaghan County Council calling on Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to expand the free contraception health scheme. The motion was put forward by Sinn Fein's Bronagh McAree, Sinead Flynn and Cathy Bennett. Earlier this year, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly expanded the scheme to cover women from the age 17 to 35. According to Cllr McAree, this is an issue which "does not" stop at the age of 35, therefore the scheme should cover all women who need it.
Speaking to Northern Sound, she believes that healthcare should be inclusive to women of all ages and has called for contraception to be equally free to all women who need it. "This is not an issue that stops at 35," explained Cllr McAree. "We think that this service should be equally free to all women who need and require it. Monaghan County Council will now write to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly asking him to extend the age of contraception to include all women who are prescribed it by their GP."
