In Ireland, the legal age of consent to engage in sexual activity is 17 years old. This means that it is illegal to engage in sexual activity with anyone under 17 years old, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. It is also important to note that if a person has been charged with an offense of engaging in a sexual act with a person between the ages of 15 and 17 years, they can put forward a defense, but only if all of these conditions apply: the age difference between the two people is not more than two years, agreement was given freely and voluntarily, neither party was exploited or intimidated, and neither person was in a position of authority. It is also worth noting that there is no set minimum age in Ireland at which contraceptive advice and prescriptions may be provided.