The contraceptive situation in the Irish Republic

Summary

The 1935 Criminal Law Amendment Act translated the Catholic Church's doctrine regarding contraception into the law of the land prohibiting the sale, importation and advertising of ‘unnatural methods’ of contraception.

Over the years, public opinion has changed and it has been estimated that over 20,000 Irish wives are taking the pill in spite of Humanae Vitae. Family planning clinics have been set up in Dublin.

In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled in the McGee case that the ban on importation was unconstitutional and violated private rights.

Three private member's bills have been defeated and a Government bill to amend the 1935 Act is before the present session of the Dáil. It is a conservative measure seeking to restrict the importation and selling of contraceptives to licensed persons and making it an offence for unmarried persons to purchase them. It is probable that the bill will be defeated by Government members who regard it as too permissive and that the law will be further liberalized by more test-cases in the Courts.