In 1984 the sale of contraception was restricted in Ireland and only available by prescription.
Ahead of the introduction of the controversial amendment to the Family Planning act in 1985 reporter Michael Fisher talks to Minister for Health and Social Welfare Barry Desmond about the sale of contraceptives and all party agreement on this new legislation.
Fisher asks if this new act will lead to more liberal availability of contraceptives.
The Health Act of 1985 liberalised the law by allowing condoms to be sold to adults without a prescription. However, under the new act condoms could only be sold in chemists, doctors' surgeries, health boards, family planning clinics and hospitals providing maternity services or treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 7 January 1984.
