Maternal Mental Health Supports: Motion Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-11 ============================================================ Malcolm Noonan (GP), Agricultural Panel Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le mo chara as an tairiscint seo. I thank my colleague Senator Cosgrove for bringing forward this motion as part of our Cross-Party Group motion. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, and her colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for their very positive response. Our youngest daughter is 11 years old. I do not think this range of services for young mothers was available at that time. We have come a long way. We have to recognise that, and it is important. It is supposed to be a happy time for a young mother. They came home with their new baby and there are the lovely new baby smells, the baby powder, the Milton and all of the babygros which I loved when they came into our house. A young mother is supposed to be happy, but it is not always the case. Once again, Senator Ryan has articulated her view so eloquently this afternoon and I wish her well in her time ahead. When she spoke to this motion for all expectant and new mothers, it was more powerful than any of the words the rest of us could say this afternoon. I welcome that the Minister of State has responded so positively. Usually in this House it is supposed to be partisan, but the Minister of State has brought forward a positive response to a motion that is something my colleague and the Cross-Party Group feel strongly about. I thank Aolish Gormley and the Year of Care campaign, which has done a wonderful piece of work by shining a light on a serious challenge for some mothers. I listened to Senator Flynn. Mothers from minority backgrounds, particularly the Traveller community, many times have to go home to difficult living conditions. The range of support being put forward now is important, but we are nowhere near where we need to be. That is why this motion is important. I welcome the commitment the Minister of State has given on perinatal mother and baby units. That is important to build on the pilot schemes that have already been rolled out. I welcome that there is funding to do this work, and she is committed to spending it. Today is a positive day. Unusually in this House we have cross-party support and Government support for this motion. I thank the Minister of State and her colleague and ask her to take back a positive message from us in opposition and our Cross-Party Group that we are willing to work, and want to work, with the Government to ensure that all of the ambition the Minister of State has outlined in her opening remarks will be realised. We will not be found wanting in supporting that because this is a country that could be a shining light for new and expectant mothers. We should expect nothing less than that and have no less ambition than that. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-11/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:37+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-02-11