Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I am absolutely disgusted that the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, has left the debate this morning. He has come up with a speech that has all the right words in it, and yet he will not be in the Chamber to listen to women's voices and women's opinions on this matter. I am really annoyed that the Minister has left the debate and not given us the respect of listening to what we have to say on the issue.

I stand here today as the Social Democrats spokesperson for children. I stand here as Wicklow's only female Deputy, and despite the Minister for Health and the previous Minister for Health being my constituency colleagues. I stand here as a mother of two daughters. I stand here as someone who campaigned and voted to repeal. I stand here as someone who fundamentally believes that women's healthcare deserves to be free from religious influence, and that women deserve to have the healthcare they need and want, when and where they need it. I am really angry that the Minister is not in the House to listen to this.

I will specifically talk about the National Maternity Hospital and I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, for being here to listen to this today. I thank Deputies Connolly and Pringle and their colleagues for bringing this motion forward. It is a hugely important issue and one which the Social Democrats will absolutely stand behind.

I will speak specifically on the ownership of the National Maternity Hospital. In his speech, the Minister said that "[t]he legal framework will also ensure that health services at the new hospital will be provided without religious, ethnic or other distinction." This does not mean that the services provided will be without religious distinction; it means the hospital would not discriminate against people on their religion or ethnicity in the context of access to the hospital. The Minister also said:

I will not countenance any new maternity hospital that has any governance or influence involving any religious ethos. Services will be provided in accordance with the law and national policies.

This completely rings hollow because this is the same Minister who, a number of weeks ago, said there was no legal, policy or health reasonmaternity restrictions were required when it came to women who were giving birth under Covid restrictions at the moment, and that there was absolutely no reason for partners not to be allowed in with them. The Chief Medical Officer said there was no legislative or health reasons that could not happen. It is clear that the Minister does not have control over what is happening in the hospitals across the State. There are many women who must face the very vulnerable position of going for healthcare, having scans and then giving birth without their partner or support person. It does not make any sense in a situation where people will very soon be able to go to the pub and enjoy a pint. Yet, women cannot have the very person they need with them while they give birth. The Minister is saying that he will make sure that the national maternity hospital will meet all its legal and national policy requirements, but that he cannot do so when it comes to maternity restrictions at the moment. I am sorry, but the Minister's assertion absolutely rings hollow. I am not taking him on his word. Promises have been made repeatedly on this over the years and the Minister and the previous Minster have still not provided the governance and clarity on who will own this hospital, who will run it, and under which ethos and influence maternity care will be provided.

In my constituency in Wicklow 74% of people voted to repeal. We did not vote to repeal on condition. We did not say that it was repeal only for some women in the State or for only some hospitals. Every single woman in Ireland and every single woman in our constituency of Wicklow deserves to have the healthcare she needs, when she needs it, and to make choices about her own body in accordance with her wishes and not some puppet that holds governance over her.

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