Irish public opposes contraceptives for teens, new poll shows
March 25, 2010
By a massive 77% majority, the Irish public opposes plans to dispense contraceptives to 14-15-year-old children without their parents' consent, according to a new poll commissioned by the Iona Institute.
In a March 25 address, also sponsored by the Iona Institute, David Paton of Nottingham University pointed out that Ireland's teen-pregnancy rate is only one-sixth of the English figure, although contraceptives have been readily available to English teenagers. There is no evidence that the distribution of contraceptives cuts pregnancy rates, he said. On the contrary, Paton concluded: “The low pregnancy rate amongst minors in Ireland is so striking that caution is surely warranted before making significant changes to the legal position surrounding access to contraception for minors.”
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