Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I think the Leas-Chathaoirleach meant to say there will be no homework for the rest of the week.

I seek a debate on maternity services. The decision made by An Coimisiún Pleanála in the past week has baffled the country and defies logic.It has actually seen a situation where all parties are coming together in criticism. Dublin City Council granted planning permission and the inspector recommended that the planning permission be upheld but two of three members of the commission decided against it. There is something fundamentally wrong here when you are talking about critical health infrastructure. The Leas-Chathaoirleach comes the same region as I do and we know that if another maternity hospital is to be built, it needs to happen in Limerick.

The Rotunda has excellent plans in terms of a critical care unit for very sick children and babies. It was very difficult listening to a spokesperson for the other side on "Morning Ireland" criticising the size of the building, maintaining that it would be another maternity hospital. That is not true. Providing care like that requires space. It requires accommodation for families. It requires accommodation for clinicians. It requires room. Given that it is located so close to the Mater Hospital, the decision to refuse beggars belief. The new legislation that is going through, which will identify critical infrastructure for the State in order that we can bypass all of this, needs to include this particular unit. To say I was absolutely stunned by the decision, like everyone else, is an understatement. Healthcare and saving lives has to trump everything.