Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to make a brief contribution to this important and interesting debate. It is good to be here in the Chamber when things are so quiet, after the emotions and excitement of this morning. I will try my best not to cause any disruption. I have listened to the previous speakers and heard numerous references to Galway, Clare and other places. I presume, therefore, I will be allowed mention Tallaght.

I welcome the attendance of the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, and wish her continued success with her work. She knows I am a fan of her work and I am trying to persuade her to come to Tallaght to visit some of the elderly services. The Minister, Deputy Harney, will visit Tallaght shortly. She is no stranger to Tallaght and will open a new facility in Whitestown. I will take advantage of the Minister of State's presence here today and invite her to visit me in Tallaght some day.

Deputy Paul Connaughton made some interesting observations, including one I hope gets some headlines. He said that male patients in our hospitals trust nurses. Sometimes I try to bring my personal experience to our debate. Thank God, I have enjoyed very good health throughout my life, but I have had a few experiences with hospitals. I had my tonsils removed years ago in Mercers Hospital and, as some Members know, I had a heart attack in 1999. Funnily enough, it happened at a Francis Black concert. I was treated in Tallaght Hospital, was there for some weeks and then had surgery in the Mater Hospital. When I look back on that period, I can say that I saw at first hand the dedication and tremendous work done by male and female nurses in our hospitals. I recovered and my experience does not seem to have done me any harm. I also spent some time in the cardiac rehabilitation programme in Tallaght Hospital. Keep it quiet, but I might not be a Dáil Deputy today except for those experiences, which helped me through a difficult time. I have nothing but admiration for the nurses and staff of our hospitals, particularly in Tallaght.

I grew up in Crumlin and have four sisters. I remember a lady appearing at our house one day. She was a midwife. I did not know her, but I remember her visit. Like many of my generation, I forget things that happened yesterday, but I remember the particular day this lady came to our house. I heard she was a midwife, but did not have a clue what a midwife was. However, I remember her as a caring, friendly person. She went up to my mother, whom I understood to be sick, and a short time later my sister Pam was born. That was the only home birth my mother had, but whenever I look back at that day I am aware the midwife made an impression on me. It is good to remember that in this debate. I heard other people today mention the dedication of midwives and the manner in which they look after people, and there is always an issue around whether people should go to hospital or stay at home for the birth of a child. It is for that reason that I mention my experience.

In the context of nurses and midwives, I could not mention Tallaght without mentioning that I, like other colleagues, strongly support the campaign for the provision of maternity services in Tallaght Hospital. This is important. The Coombe and other hospitals have provided a great service for my part of Dublin, but it is time that Tallaght, the third largest population centre in the country, had its own dedicated maternity unit. I am glad that is now being progressed. I urge the Minister to keep pressure on the administration in the Coombe Hospital, as well as in Tallaght Hospital, to provide that. There is also a plan for a major children's hospital in Eccles Street, which has been a controversial issue for Dublin and especially for Tallaght where there is already a fine children's hospital. There is also a children's hospital in Crumlin.

It is important in the context of the future development of children's services that there should be progress on the maternity services which it is accepted should be moved to Tallaght. It is fair to make that point in this debate. I seek the assistance of the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, and the departmental officials in that regard. I realise I am not allowed to name officials so I will not do so; I have no wish to get anybody into trouble. However, at least one of the officials has had a great deal of contact with us in Tallaght and has given dedicated service to Tallaght hospital. I am happy to acknowledge that, without naming him.

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