Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I too extend my condolences to the Amess family and thank those involved in the service today. Unfortunately, I cannot be there myself but Senator Wall will be. It is important we in the Houses mark Sir David Amess's passing.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business such that No. 15 be taken before No. 1. No. 15 is First Stage of the Social Welfare (Surviving Cohabitant’s Pension) Bill 2021. It is incredible in 21st century Ireland that cohabiting couples are assessed jointly for housing purposes, jobseeker's benefit, care benefit, medical cards and accessing college grants as mature students, yet when a partner passes away, that couple is not recognised in the eyes of the law and the remaining partner does not qualify for either a widow or widower's pension. We believe that law needs to be changed urgently.

The issue I wish to raise is that we are seeing an increasingly difficult situation in children's hospitals at the moment because of the sharp rise in respiratory illnesses. Worryingly, we had reports this week of one pediatric ICU bed being available. We have heard also the stories of parents. Of course, only one parent is allowed in with the baby. They are having to hold their young child for up to nine hours with no access to buggies or to support other than from the staff. As anybody with young children knows, there is only a certain amount we can do to protect and prevent young children from acquiring viruses but what we can do is ensure speedy intervention when a temperature, a cough or whatever else arises. It is unacceptable we have a situation where some GPs are refusing to see babies until they have a negative Covid result.While we can access Covid tests relatively speedily, of which I am well aware having had to do so a number of times over the past two weeks because there was Covid in my household, it can take between 25 to 29 hours, sometimes longer, to get the results. That might be fine for an older child or an adult, but for a small baby that is simply way too long. When infections get out of control, parents rightly become worried and they need to bring their babies to Temple Street hospital, Crumlin hospital or to any of the other paediatric wards throughout the country. While there is free GP care, attending an accident and emergency department without a doctor's letter costs €100, which is a significant cost.

I ask that the Leader would contact the Minister for Health with regard to the putting in place of a fast-track process for Covid tests for young babies because the current process is too lengthy. We also need direction from the Irish College of General Practitioners to the effect that all GPs should be triaging babies, at least, in the car park, when they present with potential infections.