Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise an issue that is very sensitive but it is one that should be raised. I would like the Minister for Health to come to the Seanad for a debate on the very difficult topic of concealed pregnancies and births. I raise this in light of the very tragic case in Balbriggan over the weekend. As legislators, we should discuss this in a sensitive but determined fashion. Concealed births and pregnancies echo back to a distant, dark time in our history, but it is not in the past, it is happening today and to a certain cohort of women who feel they cannot disclose that they are pregnant and do not get the correct medical treatment they need. They are in every community across the country. This is something we need to discuss.

Concealed pregnancies can lead to tragic outcomes for the mother herself and her baby. Data are not properly collected and that is the first starting point. We need to have a very clear picture of what is happening and then we can work out why it is happening and what proper supports can be put in place. That is the reason I would like the Minister to come to the Seanad for a coherent and substantial debate on this topic because the issue must be tackled. There is a tendency to not discuss such matters because of their sensitivity, but it is incumbent on us as legislators and as policy makers to have the discussion once and for all.

In the past year there have been four infant deaths linked to concealed pregnancies, and that is just what has been reported in the media. As the data are not collected properly we do not know what is happening and we do not have a clear picture. The issue must be examined from an interdisciplinary perspective to develop clear care pathways for women. We must end the stigmatisation of women who conceal pregnancy and birth. The media play a very strong role in the changing of the narrative regarding concealed pregnancies and births. Very clear options need to be presented to women. From studies that have been done in this regard the issue of adoption came up. We are not providing information or even suggesting adoption as an option for women. Many of the women who were interviewed said they would like to get some information in that regard. We must also decriminalise the concealment of pregnancies. A couple of years ago an Irish girl in Australia was charged with concealing her pregnancy, which ended in a stillbirth. Criminalisation leads to a chilling effect on women who are already in a very difficult position. Concealment must be decriminalised immediately.

The only recent study that has been done in this country on concealed births is the case study that has been conducted by Dr. Sylvia Murphy Tighe from the University of Limerick and Professor Joan Lalor from Trinity College, Dublin. The study concluded that nearly all of the women had a deep emotional trauma from childhood, or through adulthood, and that led to them concealing their pregnancy. I would like the Minister to come to the House so we can have a debate on this topic. As Members can imagine, it is a very live issue in north County Dublin at the moment and we want it to be discussed. The Minister has made great strides in women's healthcare but this is a very important piece of the jigsaw and I would appreciate if he could come to the House for a debate on the topic.