A Green Party Senator says there should be free access to contraception in Ireland, especially for young people.
It is thought the scheme could cost the State between €80m to €100m a year.
The Programme for Government commits to rolling out free access to contraception to women and girls aged 17 to 25.
It was also one of the key recommendations of the Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment that free contraception be introduced.
Senator Pauline O'Reilly says its implementation should be made a priority, and for the Government to set out a timeline for the development of a scheme for universal free contraception.
She told Newstalk Breakfast access to contraception is a matter of not only public health, but human rights.
"It's one of the three legs of the stool in relation to reproductive rights... Yes it is important and we have abortion care in Ireland, but if we're really progressive then we also have to have free contraception.
"It's what happens in other countries where there is abortion care".
Senator O'Reilly said it is not just about being able to afford contraception.
"If you look at research, they're actually saying that a lot of people who become pregnant in an unplanned way do so because they're using a form of contraception that might be cheaper, but it's not actually filling the needs that they're looking for for their family".
"People on the medical card can access free contraception, but actually we're still finding that it's not getting to everybody who needs it - and in particular young people".
She said "a huge amount" of 17 and 18-year-olds cannot afford contraception.
And she said the cost of the scheme for those aged 17 to 25 is estimated to be between €18m and €22m a year.
"That is a tiny amount of money", she said.
Senator O'Reilly added that this has to be part of overall health.
"I think that if it's very clearly a recommendation that you not only provide abortion in Ireland, but you also provide contraception then you actually have to follow through on that".
"And not just pick out one thing and say 'let's have abortion but let's not actually help people afterwards'".
