Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It takes a village to raise a child. Covid-19 and the restrictions that came with it put that fact up in lights. In the very short time I have, I will focus on first-time parents. I am familiar with the experience myself. People leave the hospital full of enthusiasm and love and bursting with pride but, in truth, they do not know what they are at and are half petrified. To overcome this, they lean on their family, friends, neighbours and anyone else who is willing to help. In normal times, there are many such people.

My good friends, whom the Minister knows, Micheál Óg Ó Gallachóir and Emma Dillon Gallagher, became parents for the first time on 14 March when Emma gave birth to beautiful baby Faolán. The picture of the first time baby Faolán met his grandad, seven days later, was posted on Twitter. It was retweeted 106,000 times and received 714,000 likes. It was seen all over the world.

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The new parents were asked to do media interviews in Britain, the United States and elsewhere. We could ask why that was the case. Many people will have seen it in the media. It is because in the photo Faolán is not in his grandad's arms - he cannot be - and his granddad is outside the house, peering in through the kitchen window at his grandson in his son's arms. Three generations are separated by a window due to Covid-19 restrictions. There was novelty in the story of the photo, but actually it was very sad. New mums and babies such as Emma and Faolán have been denied some of the very basic and essential supports that would otherwise be available. Routine check-ups, visits from the public health nurse, vaccinations, therapies, mother and baby groups, and breastfeeding circles have similarly been cancelled or postponed.

Postnatal depression has apparently increased threefold during the Covid period and I have no doubt the same applies to anxiety. Childcare is a significant issue and it needs to be addressed. It takes a village to raise a child. Covid-19 has denied mothers and babies that benefit. It has been said to me that we were forced to close the doors and lock ourselves away for three months. The only compassionate and decent thing to do for new mothers and babies is to support the Sinn Féin motion. I support Deputy Carthy's proposal that the Government withdraw its amendment as it does not go anywhere near far enough. I commend the Sinn Féin motion to the House.

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