Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Earlier the Minister spoke about the third anniversary of the vote to repeal the eighth amendment and the questions around the national maternity hospital. He said he has no evidence that there is any difference between his position and that of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, other than what we and all in government want. According to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, there is no disagreement on a full guarantee on an absolutely independent national maternity hospital.

We do not have evidence there is not a divide between them. A cross-party group has written to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, asking him to meet us and give us clarity on the issue. He has not answered. I have written personally to him and he has not answered. I have tabled parliamentary questions that have not been answered. Will the Minister please now ask Stephen Donnelly to give the women of this country an answer?

By the way, I think it is worth noting that if men could get pregnant - look around you - we would have had clarity long ago. We are not getting clarity because we are being kicked around again on the question of full access to safe, legal abortion. Will the Minster please get the Minister for Health to give us clarity on the issue?

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