Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that indemnity insurance will be withdrawn from independent midwives on 31 March 2008; if she will ensure that this cover is provided by the State Claims Agency in order that domiciliary births can continue to be available to those who want and are suitable for them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9293/08]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views regarding the threat to the choice of home births posed by the withdrawal of indemnity insurance cover for self employed midwives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9574/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 212 together.

Independent or self employed midwives are not employees of the public health service. As the independent midwives are private operators who do not have service level agreements with the public health service it is not possible at present for them to come within the ambit of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme administered by the State Claims Agency. The Irish Nurses Organisation provides a certain level of insurance cover to independent midwives who are members of the organisation. The INO had indicated that they would not be providing insurance cover after 31st March, however, I understand that it has been in touch with its insurer about extending this cover until the end of September.

I support choice for women in childbirth. The option of domiciliary births must only be provided in a safe and secure manner. My officials are working with the HSE to put in place a robust clinical governance framework in order to ensure that the practice of independent midwives is brought into close working relationships with maternity services currently delivered by the HSE and the voluntary maternity hospitals. Subject to this being achieved it would then be the intention to bring the independent midwives within the scope of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme by means of an extension of the cover under the scheme to the HSE.