Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

As a State, we need to make sure the highest standard of science and medical knowledge is at the heart of the decisions we make. The truth of the matter is the doctors and healthcare professionals I have spoken to are really frustrated with the language that has been used about their ability to provide services. If one goes to anybody in the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street or St. Vincent's, they are phenomenally frustrated at their professionalism being undermined wholesale and repeatedly in the debates over the past months on this issue.

Aontú is a human rights party. We believe first and foremost that the health of the mother and the life of the mother should be protected in every single circumstance. After that, we believe the lives and health of the sons and daughters should be protected as well, if possible. We are basically looking at a situation where some Fine Gael Deputies and Senators have been coming out to say they kind of oppose this deal. This is deeply hypocritical. This is Fine Gael's baby and has been promised for years. There are real questions the Dáil should be asking. Why are we talking about something that was first announced in 2008 and again in 2013? Why is there a cost increase from €150 million to more than €800 million on this particular project? Are the private clinics already attached to Holles Street going to be shifted onto the site? None of this information is being teased out properly because of the ideological predisposition in relation to this battle.

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