Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree 100% and I agree with and support the Chief Medical Officer's view that, given the situation with the suppression of the virus and the vaccination programme, there is no good public health reason for these restrictions remaining in place. I urge that, where appropriate, all maternity services relax their restrictions. The updated national guidance issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre says it is generally appropriate to facilitate attendance by a partner through active labour and childbirth, at the 20-week anatomy scans and on daily visits, for example, to a child in neonatal care. The chief clinical officer of the HSE has written to the hospitals seeking confirmation that maternity services are implementing the current national guidelines. I will talk to the CEO of the HSE again to make sure this is applied across the country.

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