Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the ongoing restrictions in maternity hospitals. Needless to say, everyone supports necessary restrictions, but mothers and families were understandably shocked when restrictions allowed socialising in pubs but they still had to go through labour alone, fathers could not attend the births of their own children and women sometimes received tragic news alone, messaging their partners in car parks. This is not to mention the fact that this was literally a postcode lottery; there was absolutely no consistency across hospitals. The guidelines on restrictions in maternity hospitals I am continuously given date back to September. The situation has changed significantly since then, especially with the vaccine roll-out for front-line workers. When can families expect new updates? Can the Taoiseach assure them that this time they will be considered a priority for the Government in respect of any restrictions going forward?

See this speech in context