Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to call in the Minister for Health. I read in this morning's edition of the Irish Examinerthat four new maternity hospitals are needed across the country. Nearly on a monthly basis I have raised the shame that although we have agreement to build a new national maternity hospital at St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, we have been waiting ten months for planning permission to be lodged. What we got is an internal turf war. It is no longer good enough to hear mediation is happening. We need action. The health of women and children seems to be always pushed to the bottom of the queue. If people want to have a war over who is going to control the budget or who will be members of the board, let them have it. But let us build a new national maternity hospital. The funding is agreed. There is €150 million waiting to be called down. It is frustrating to hear, over and over again, that there is no agreement.

I have raised this on the Commencement debate and on the Order of Business, and it has been highlighted by a national newspaper, the Irish Examiner. Maternity hospitals across the country are in crisis. We need four new maternity hospitals properly staffed and resourced. Although we have agreement to build one, because of a turf war we cannot even apply for planning permission. It is unacceptable and the House should not find it acceptable. We need the Minister to come here and answer questions about why it has been delayed and why 10,000 children who are born in the National Maternity Hospital every year, and 8,000 women, will be put at risk. In the other House, we are arguing about repealing the eighth amendment to the Constitution, and it is important. However, this issue is being overlooked. We need the Minister to come here and answer very clear questions on why the new national maternity hospital has not gone to planning permission and why we do not have a proper maternity service for the women and children of the country.It is unacceptable that a turf war should delay this.