Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Earlier, the Tánaiste said that it was Government policy that the maternity restrictions are essentially lifted but that he recognised the right of individual hospitals to make their own decisions, which essentially leaves us with the status quowhereby maternity restrictions will remain in place. This begs the question as to who is in charge of our health service. Is the Government in a position to actively direct the hospitals to follow Government policy in this matter? There is little point in Government having radical listening exercises with women if it does not propose to actually hear what they are saying.

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