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

It is in total agreement that I take my second opportunity. This has to be the case. We cannot have a pre-emptive and prescriptive addressing of these problems and the Minister for Health's comments yesterday equated to such. For him to suggest in the context of these tragic outcomes that maternity services at a "number" of so-called smaller hospitals may close is the wrong answer, one which was offered before the review group had even commenced its work. His statement undoubtedly fits the agenda of those who are advocates of further centralisation and subscribe to the controlling obstetricians' view of child delivery. I say "controlling" obstetricians rather than obstetricians in general. I do not view expectant mothers as ill - far from it - or in need of consultant care generally. The overwhelming number require the services and support of a midwife or midwives. Nowhere in the eight recommendations made in the report on Portlaoise hospital is there a mention of closure. It is within the gift of the system to address the deficiencies and needs in order to ensure a safe service for women and the child or children they are expecting. That is absolutely what the Tánaiste has said and I agree that it must at all times be the critical focus.

I again appeal to the Tánaiste because I am concerned that an agenda is being oxygenised. She should ensure the assessment process is allowed to finish and not allow those with an agenda to seize the moment and set the scene for the closure of any number of the remaining 19 maternity units across the country. Will she defend the right of women to access a safe service of their choice and not to be pressed against their will into heavily centralised conveyor belt child birthing settings?

See this speech in context