Dr. Colm Henry:

It is not from here on, in case there is a misunderstanding. There have been several iterations of visiting policy corresponding to different levels of the pandemic. The high levels of community transmission and the outbreak obviously led to severe restrictions. Cases falling, hospitals becoming safer and the vaccination programme taking hold have allowed us to ease visiting restrictions. It is under constant review. I mentioned to Deputy Crowe's colleagues earlier that the most recent review this week is expanding beyond those four areas which are listed in the opening statement to additional areas.

We issued guidance. We contacted all the hospitals. There is, as has been mentioned, some variation based on infrastructure, which is understandable. Some of these maternity units are quite old, with infrastructure which corresponds to another age when it comes to ideal infection prevention control measures. Our principal aim is to keep women, babies and pregnancies safe. That is of great importance to us given the risk we are now aware of, not just from Ireland but from abroad, to both women and pregnancies from Covid-19.

The most recent advice, which we will be altering this week, goes into those additional areas. I will not repeat them again because I have stated them to the Deputy's colleagues. We then follow up through our operations, working with Ms O'Connor and her colleagues through all those 19 maternity units and marking them against compliance with the latest iteration of our visiting guidance. What we are trying to do is balance the sometimes competing requirements for the needs and rights of partners to attend with our similarly important need to protect women and pregnancies from Covid-19.