Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

People have criticised me for not producing evidence that this sort of abuse is occurring. Some have sought to go further and, head in the sand, deny that it is occurring at all. I am the first to admit that comprehensive figures are not within my remit to gather, coming as they do primarily from maternity hospitals whose first concern is quite properly for the health and well-being of the mothers in their care and not the gathering of statistical information on their country of origin, immigration status or motives for the benefit of my Department.

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