Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A fortnight ago, the hopes of many pregnant women and their partners were raised on foot of some of the speculation and leaks relating to maternity restrictions only for them to be dashed the following day. What happened the following day was that what is in effect throughout most of the country was dressed up as an advance and as something new. I am one of those partners who, I have to say, was deeply disappointed. I was looking forward to attending a 34-week growth scan but it does not look like that will be possible now. The Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, referred to his frustration with hospitals for failing to implement access in respect of 20-week scans and neonatal visits. To be honest, while that frustration is not misplaced, it is far from the whole picture. Ambition needs to be raised much beyond that. The Chief Medical Officer, the Taoiseach and the World Health Organization say that partners should be treated not as visitors but as an essential support to pregnant women.

See this speech in context