Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Tánaiste will be aware, the march for maternity care will take place on Wednesday, 6 October, at 1 p.m. outside the gates of Leinster House. Yesterday, the Better Maternity Care campaign group met with the HSE to discuss a roadmap for maternity care and, yet again, the group was left utterly frustrated and angry. Indeed, "heartsore" was one word used by Ms Linda Kelly, a member of the group.

At the meeting, the HSE confirmed that the current guidelines - these very restrictive guidelines - will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Despite all the cross-party support for a return to normal pre-Covid practices for maternity care and birthing partners, why is there still no roadmap for better maternity care? Will the Tánaiste ask the Minister for Health to meet the Better Maternity Care group as soon as possible?

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