Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raised with the Taoiseach on a number of occasions the need to end restrictions in maternity hospitals for pregnant women and their partners. I am sure the Taoiseach has heard, as I have, the really heartbreaking stories from many people about the hardship this has caused. Put simply, partners are not visitors and they must have access, along with the pregnant women, for appointments, scans, labour and postnatal care.

The Taoiseach has confirmed on a number of occasions that it is his view, shared by the Chief Medical Officer; the head of the HSE, Mr. Paul Reid; and the Minister for Health that there is now no reason for restrictions to be in place. Yet as we meet today, these restrictions are still a reality. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene and bring together the masters of the maternity hospitals and managers of hospitals with maternity units.

This situation needs to be rectified without further delay.

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