Sexual orientation and contraception are two very serious issues which I feel greatly underqualified to form global opinions about. The situation in Ireland seems to me like a misunderstanding of the Catholic teachings, given that AFAIK the teachings are meant to be followed in one's personal life because of one's personal faith, and not by forcing them on others by means such as state laws.

The only comment I can make is by following the teachings in my own life and not having sex outside marriage, I don't conceive children* with women whom I abandon later, therefore

- I don't hurt women by making them take contraceptive pills with unknown side effects,

- I don't hurt women by forcing them to carry out a child they do not want,

- I don't hurt children by causing them to grow up without a loving family,

- I don't hurt women by forcing them to go to abortion,

- I don't hurt children by conceiving them and then killing them in abortion before they are born.

Most of the above happened in my family, and I want to avoid the hurt caused by or to my family members in these situations.

* AFAIK no contraception is 100% effective.