Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this sensitive issue. It is an ongoing issue and many people have taken an interest in it in recent weeks, including Senator Currie, members of the Labour Party and others. I recognise the constructive and measured approach the Labour Party has taken in recent weeks with regard to the country trying to deal with this Covid crisis. The Deputy has taken the time to attend all the briefings, to speak to the Taoiseach afterwards and to take a position on whether we should go to level 4 or level 5 when other parties would not. The approach shown by the Labour Party is in stark contrast to the behaviour of other Opposition parties when it comes to Covid and when we should all be very much on the same side in doing everything we can to contain the virus, North and South.

On the specific issue raised by the Deputy, I understand that partners and fathers are allowed to attend for the labour in the maternity hospitals, but there are tight restrictions on attending for antenatal appointments and scans. Mechanisms are being put in place, where possible, to allow the father or the partner to attend remotely. However, that is not the same as being there in person. One cannot hold hands over Zoom and one certainly cannot comfort somebody who is getting bad news virtually or remotely. What concerns the clinical directors and masters is that the more people who come into the hospital, the greater is the risk that coronavirus will be brought into the hospital. With the virus at such high levels in the community, the risk increases each time a visitor comes into the hospital. We must be cognisant of that. The vast majority of pregnant women are very healthy, and even if they contracted coronavirus there will probably be no negative sequelae as a result. However, some women are not. Some have complicated pregnancies and have co-morbidities. If they got coronavirus while pregnant, it could result in bad outcomes for them and their babies. So far, no pregnant woman in Ireland has died of coronavirus, and we would like to keep it that way.

We must balance the concerns. However, I have listened to what the Deputy said and I will take it up with the HSE and CMO the next time we talk.

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