Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. My question is not so much about neonatal services, because that service is the minimum to be expected in hospitals where abortions are being performed. I am alarmed to think that five of the 24 hospitals do not have at least that minimum facility. I am looking for facilities for the intensive care of newborns. I will comment briefly on Senator Harte's rambling musings on the issue. Along with many other Members, I am familiar with the expertise of doctors in delivering babies which are at full gestation. However, that is not the issue. Senator Harte seems to have missed the point completely. This Bill is about removing babies at 23 weeks - and indeed before that, when they have no chance of survival. At 23 weeks, 24, weeks, 25 weeks, 26 weeks, 27 weeks or 28 weeks, such babies will require intensive medical care. All I am looking for is that they be given that care. My concern is that if these facilities are not on-site it is logical that there will be a period of delay. If these young babies have only a 25% chance of survival without being seriously injured, the 25% who will be injured should be given the best possible service. That is saying nothing about the good maternity care system in the country, which I have acknowledged at all stages of this debate. If we cut out the obfuscation and the interruptions from the far side, and listen to the intent of what is being sought in some of these amendments, maybe some grounds for agreement will be found-----