Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the last remarks by the Minister. Only in the fullness of time will we have the opportunity to test them but I hope the commitment will be delivered upon. Will the Minister confirm the scope of the report of the Chief Medical Officer? Will it include address of the staffing levels and understaffing over the number of years involved? It is crucial to establishing the full facts. In his first reply, the Minister said staffing issues are being addressed. I note that he referred to "up to the approved complement" in his first response to the question. My understanding is that the current ratio of midwives to births is 1:55, when the internationally recognised norm is 1:29. What is the Minister referring to when he says staffing levels are being increased up to the approved complement? Whose approval and whose standards? It is hugely important that we know exactly what we are talking about. What are we talking about? Will the Minister quantify the number of new midwives expected? Where does it come in the internationally recommended norm of 1:29 births?

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