Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chair. I think we can all see on the record of the House exactly what was being proposed. Anyway, the first time I was compared to or linked in some way to Nazism and fascism was when I was rolling out the Covid vaccines. This is the second time now, when we are just trying to ensure that women can get access to health services without being intimidated.

I also wish to make it very clear on the record that Senator Mullen may have understood and thought I was adding some of my own words to the text of the letter I read out. He seemed to take great exception to it being pointed out that it was six men who were standing under the window. That was direct testimony from the midwife. I am not making any allegations in terms of the male–female mix of those who protest. The words I used were taken directly from the testimony of the midwife. Sadly, and genuinely regrettably, yet again we see again that the Senator has called into question one of our midwives, as he has the Government, the Department of Health, the HSE, doctors and nurses and GPs right across the country. Just so there is no misunderstanding on the record, the reference to it being six men was read out directly from a letter I received from one of our Dublin midwives. I thank the House.