Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I am pleased this issue will be to the fore in our Presidency. The good news is that, since 1994, there has been a 50% drop in maternal mortality in the developing world. There are still unmet goals and 1,000 women a day die in childbirth, which is unacceptable. Over 200 million women have no access to family planning. This is partly because AIDS resulted in diverting funds away from family planning and towards solving AIDS. The inverse relationship between maternal mortality and the availability of contraception means it is essential that funds are redirected to family planning. It is more than just a case of funding - political will is at least as important from the donor and recipient countries. I recognise the Minister of State has that political will. I ask the Minister of State to use every opportunity during the Presidency and in his interaction with recipient countries to ensure they prioritise policies and practices that put maternal health to the fore and prioritise millennium development goals Nos. 4 and 5.

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