Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome yesterday's announcement by the Taoiseach that there is going to be an investigation and priority given to University Hospital Limerick, and that the Taoiseach is going to engage with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I thank the Leader and Deputy Leader for making contact with the Taoiseach and for their work on this.A report was commissioned by the HSE on drug and alcohol abuse in the context of babies being born. The figures for 2020 were up significantly. We need to carry out an assessment to look at what happened during Covid in relation to drugs and alcohol. It is frightening to find that children are being born with symptoms of drug and alcohol abuse. The issue needs to be dealt with. I would like a review to be carried out.