Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats)

A particularly laudable aspect of this development goal is that maternal mortality is largely preventable and is one of the millennium development goals on which we can really make progress. I applaud Ireland's increased assistance to and support of the UNFPA, as I applaud the new initiatives on the part of the Government in regard to gender-based violence and the targeting of funding against female genital mutilation, which is highly important. Given that maternal mortality is largely preventable, it is a problem the international community should galvanise itself to eradicate — Ireland is doing a good job in this area.

Pregnancy is the number one world killer of adolescent girls. That should not be the case. We know from our own experience the extent of maternal mortality and related problems. Contraception was part of dealing with that problem. People, particularly women because they carry the burden of the pregnancy, are entitled to the choice. Turning a blind eye to the function or role of contraception in dealing with the millennium development goals and population issues is utterly foolish. We need only look at our own history. Women died while giving birth to their 16th child. It is inhumane to subject a person to this. Just because we have advanced, it is not acceptable that we deny that option to poorer people.

Another issue with regard to the millennium development goals is the unmet need for family planning. The Minister of State will know I am chair of the all-party group on sexual and reproductive health. We offer an invitation to the Minister of State to meet us, and hope he will do so. It is a cross-party group which welcomes all shades of opinion.