Dr. Ronan Glynn:

The Senator asked why this has been seen, or at least reported, here. There is a difference between seeing something and reporting it. We have certainly always been very good at reporting here. The reasons for this are not entirely clear. What is clear is that these cases emerged during a period in which there was a massive increase in the incidence of the disease and when community transmission was widespread with a new variant. Beyond that, it is difficult to identify the precise reasons this was seen here while other jurisdictions have not yet reported it. The matter remains under investigation by colleagues in the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and in the women and infants programme of the HSE.

I want to reassure women and their partners that the experience in this country with regard to maternity care and Covid has been very positive. We have had no maternal deaths over the past year and we hope that will continue. Women who have been diagnosed with Covid should make their medical practitioners aware of that diagnosis and follow all the protocols that are in place in that regard.

The Senator's second question was about vaccinations. NIAC is keeping the issue under active review. Any woman who is at high or very high risk because of an underlying condition will have been prioritised for vaccination. Beyond that, NIAC is keeping the matter under review. It would be a significant move forward to decide to vaccinate all pregnant women on the basis of information that is, to date, very limited, albeit concerning. We need to collect more information both in Ireland and internationally with regard to the issue.