Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

It is impossible to demonstrate the motives of individuals who come to Ireland and have children to a point of mathematical certainty. Equally, I want to emphasise that it is almost the universal understanding of those who are active in the field of migration and in the field of maternity services in Ireland that citizenship is a very significant pull factor inducing people to come to Ireland to have children. I have heard no one of any authority deny that.

It has been suggested that I have shifted my ground from the effect of this issue on maternity hospitals to its effect on the integrity of our citizenship and immigration laws. With respect to those who make that comment, I have not shifted my ground.

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