Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

That relates to the issue of consultation. Government backbenchers are trying to claim they are the Government and the Opposition. It suits them to say in their constituencies, particularly in south Cork, that this legislation should not be rushed through, yet they all vote the same way in the Dáil. We saw that during the debate on the widows' pension and other issues. They claim they are against something, yet they support it in the Dáil.

I was interested in the speech given by the Minister for Health and Children, which was extremely good. He stated that this country is an attractive target. We know some people target this country. However, he has not made the health service attractive for Irish or non-national mothers and babies in Cavan and Monaghan. When I was in Cork recently, I received an emergency telephone call from a parent in north Monaghan who wanted to get a child into the centre of excellence in Drogheda but who had been told by the family doctor that the hospital had been taken off call because gynaecologists or paediatricians were not available. They were told to send the child to Cavan General Hospital, which is full, or to Tallaght. Yet the Minister says our country is attractive for mothers and babies.

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