Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach's response is unsatisfactory because it does not cut to the core of the question I asked about the under-resourcing of our maternity and obstetric services. My understanding is that maternity services received just €3 million in additional funding in 2016. I always said that last year's budget was a false and fraudulent one in terms of public figures. Adequate provision was not made for the implementation of the strategy. I put it to the Taoiseach that this is a recurring theme in all the key presentations to the Oireachtas by those involved and in the various reports.

To quote Dr. Sam Coulter-Smith: "All of these factors combined have resulted in all hospitals having difficulty retaining and recruiting quality staff...resulting in an over reliance on locum and agency staff," and this is a key recurring theme.

The Taoiseach made reference to the legislation and I put it to him that in situations such as this we should have independent reviews of the incidents rather than internal reviews. Legislation is not needed to do that. The Minister could intervene and ensure that it happens. HIQA or an external independent review of the incidents would give certainty and confidence. Does the Taoiseach find it acceptable that in the four deaths between 2012 and 2015 we have, as yet, no information regarding those and no published report?

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