Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I also wish all the best for a resolution at Cork University Maternity Hospital. People were astonished to learn that this magnificent hospital could not open due to industrial relations difficulties. Does the Minister have concerns regarding poor management at HSE level? She might investigate why a major brand new hospital remained closed due to issues that would have been resolved well before the new project's opening in any well-managed organisation. Will she investigate to establish the exact difficulty to ensure best practice within the HSE?

The Minister should respond to the fact that an expert group, the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, produced a report on maternity hospitals last October that alerted her to serious staffing problems therein. The report produced last October made it clear that the basic infrastructure of maternity services is grossly inadequate and staffing problems exist across the board in that regard. Had the Minister taken action when the report was published, situations such as those affecting Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital probably would not have arisen.

I understand the Central Statistics Office brought out its final report today, which shows a highly significant increase in population. Although I cannot recall the exact figure, there has been an increase of approximately 400,000. This will affect metropolitan areas such as Cork and Dublin, as well as the regions surrounding them. No preparatory work has been done by the Minister, her Department or the HSE to meet this need, which explains the stresses and strains in Cork, as well as the spectacle of pregnant women waiting for five months before receiving full ante-natal care.

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