David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her compassionate response and her understanding of this issue. I raised this issue with the acting Chief Medical Officer myself at a meeting earlier this week. I completely understand the infection control measures that are in place in hospitals and the need to maintain social distancing and keep people away from hospitals to protect newborns and pregnant women. We all accept that this is a very challenging time.

At the same time, we need to consider allowing critical and compassionate access for visitors to residents of nursing homes and the partners of pregnant women. I do not believe that any resident of a nursing home should have to die alone. My own mother died several years ago. I would never allow it to happen if it was my mother, and the same is true for the vast majority of people. When I met the acting Chief Medical Officer he said that two reports were making their way to his desk. One concerned critical and compassionate access for visitors to the residents of nursing homes, and one was on the issue of access to maternity hospitals for partners. Perhaps the Minister of State could find out the status of those reports, the recommendations that have been made and the changes that can be implemented to support Natasha and many others.

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