Dr. Meabh Ní Bhuinneáin:

Regarding the Senator's second question on social indicators, we use those on a daily basis in providing services. We check understanding if the woman does not have the first language of the country or the health providers. We use gender inequality and check for domestic and gender-based violence. We use immigrant status. We use ethnicity. If we are not the major ethnicity of the country in which we are receiving reproductive health services, we tend to do worse than those who are of the major ethnicity. It is more difficult in deliberation over life. Where we are not familiar with the different ethnic groups, there may not be the same responsiveness to their needs. We also use social indicators in health assessment and risk assessment in part of our education communication strand of care.

In terms of the committee's deliberations, social indicators probably best fit when it comes to determining where services are provided. If they are not integrated fully in the public health system, those who are most socially disadvantaged through urban or rural poverty will still not be able to succeed in gaining equitable access to care.