Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday saw a very powerful and poignant rally outside the gates of Leinster House. The march for maternity reminded us there is still an important part of society to which somehow, inexplicably, the Government has not responded and it highlighted the change in circumstances in which we find ourselves 19 months down the line of this pandemic. Has the Tánaiste read the experiences of the women detailed on the scroll that was delivered to the Dáil yesterday? If not, will he ensure he does so? Does he understand there are far wider-reaching risks than solely those posed by Covid-19 to the health of mothers and babies? His Government claims that radical listening forms part of the latest HSE women-centred strategy, but yesterday the women's demonstration contended that rather than experiencing radical listening, they have been experiencing selective hearing. The pandemic has presented unfathomable challenges-----

See this speech in context