The age of innocence

The perennially thorny issue of young people and sex has once again risen its head after statements made by Mary Harney last week. Speaking at the publication of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency’s annual report, she appeared to advocate that the morning-after pill should be made available to 11-year-olds where required in individual cases, but only with the consent of their parents. The Tanaiste added that this raised huge issues and would require widespread consultation with experts and other groups.
Unsurprisingly, reaction to her comments has been swift and forthright. Hazel Nolan, President of the Secondary Schools Student Union, told hotpress that the problem lay in the education system. “Our viewpoint is that there isn’t adequate information provided to young people because a lot of schools are under the Catholic Ethos and they’re not allowed to show examples of the proper use of contraception,” she says. “If we’re at the point where 11-year-olds are having sex that’s really shocking. There’s a lot of information floating around about sex and young people have easy access to it. It’s always a race to grow up and anything that will make you feel more mature intrigues people. If adults don’t provide proper information on sex, it just makes it more mysterious and attractive.”
Niall Behan of the Irish Family Planning Association, meanwhile, feels that approaching the debate in such a sensationalist manner doesn’t help matters. “I was at the press conference and Mary Harney was asked what she would do if there was an 11-year-old standing in front of her who needed emergency contraception. In 36 years the IFPA has never seen that situation, the issue is really around the 15 to 17 year olds. That’s where the difficulty is. Sexual activity is starting at 16 but young people are not using contraception until later. There’s a mismatch there”. He also refuted the CPA’s argument that many pharmacies chose not to stock contraception. “There are two that we know of in Dublin. It’s not a huge issue, much more important is the cost of contraception for young people. That’s the major barrier.”