James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

After that, we can investigate issues of changing circumstances. That should require a different type of approach further down the line. I will discuss that with the HSE. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy White, will as well.

Mention was made of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act. It will be ready by the year end in terms of implementability. Dr. Philip Crowley might say a few words on the matter. I was also asked about an update on the Higgins report. Chairs have been appointed to all of the groups except one. This will allow us to appoint boards. We have already put in train the advertising process for the CEOs of the various groups. We want to move this work on, as it is a critical part of addressing the problems of the long hours and out-of-hours work of NCHDs. It is also a critical part of addressing our budget.

Maternity services in Dungarvan were mentioned. No maternity hospital has closed. Clearly, it was a community service. I will look into the matter directly for the Deputy, but it is not the direction we are taking, as we have opened new services in Mitchelstown and other primary care centres. We want people to have as much of their care in the community as possible. Maternity care is an obvious example, in that a consultant can travel to see 36 women instead of 36 women needing to travel to see a consultant.