Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the motion. I do not usually get into arguments or disagreements with people around here because I think we all have to work for the common good. That said, I was somewhat taken aback by the Minister attack on Fianna Fáil. My party is doing the right thing for the right reason. I acknowledge the work that Deputies Donnelly and Lisa Chambers and many members of the party have done in support of this motion. The provision of an acceptable, safe, high-quality maternity service to all mothers and babies, regardless of where they live, must be a core objective of public health policy.

It is clear that our national maternity infrastructure is under strain and needs serious review and investment. That is the purpose of the motion proposed by Fianna Fáil, which gets the support of most of the House. The failure to fund any new developments in the national maternity strategy in 2019 is a matter of great concern.

The Minister referred to various failures in previous years but if he was to look at his own tenure and the past nine years of a Fine Gael-led Government he would see that a significant number of problems have arisen in the system. That is the reason we are so concerned and why we want investment in the programme. Figures provided to Fianna Fáil last year showed that the State paid out almost €120 million in compensation in 2017 for incidents that occurred in maternity units. Since 2007 there has been a tenfold increase in claims and a thirtyfold increase in payments. Given the many high profile incidents in maternity units in that time, it is hardly surprising to see such a significant increase. Nonetheless, it brings home the price of error in the health service and underscores the need for standards and vigilance. It is in everybody's interests that we have those standards and that we have vigilance. The total awarded in 2017 at €120 million is a very significant outlay. Let us bear in mind that the HSE service plan for 2017 committed €81.3 million for the expansion of existing services or the development of new services. This is about having a proper and safe environment. So many young mothers have told me they are worried about going into a maternity unit. That should not be the way it is. Women should feel safe and secure in maternity units. I do not blame staff; I blame the lack of proper conditions and facilities. There are not enough staff on duty. Staff are not being appointed to fill positions. Deputy Rabbitte referred to a hospital in my constituency - Portiuncula University Hospital - which has been crying out for an accident and emergency unit for so long but it cannot be funded. The accident and emergency unit is vital as well in terms of the maternity services. This motion is about doing the right thing and having a proper service that people respect and feel comfortable accessing. We owe it to citizens, in particular young mothers and babies, to do that.

See this speech in context