Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State. Like her, I acknowledge the critical role that midwives across the country play in the delivery of excellent services for mums and their new babies. I acknowledge that the Minister for Health has said that she understands the disruption and distress that has been caused. I appreciate that in the Minister of State's answer, she said measures had been put in place to resume the service and that they have confirmed that the antenatal clinics will be operating as normal from this week. That is important news in Athy Primary Care Centre and Portarlington Primary Care Centre. The Minister of State talked about the issue with recruitment, which is obviously important, because every new mum deserves to have the very best. I wish the Minister of State well with the task force that is being established. I stress that it is important to make sure contingency plans are in place so that something like this does not happen again in south Kildare or indeed anywhere else in the country.