Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Despite words, commitments and supposed agreements, maternity restrictions remain in place. These are real women and real-time experiences, and a real solution is needed. Yesterday, I spoke with a lady who is having her second baby under these restrictions. Extenuating circumstances apply because this will be the last baby the couple in question will have. In the period since the first child was born, this woman has gone through the unendurable pain of losing twins to miscarriage. Again, she was alone because of maternity restrictions. This couple are now pleading, in writing, to their local hospital to facilitate the father to be there for just this one birth. That is all he is asking for. It is clear the hospital is not listening. If the Taoiseach does not have the authority to fix this, who does?

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