An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed)
Dail Éireann — 2026-06-09
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Micheál Martin (FF), Cork South-Central

I think the Minister is taking a strategic approach to the development of maternity services. There is a lot in what the Deputy says, although it needs to be discussed in more depth. As a former Minister, I have been through the home birth situation. It is not easy. There are a lot a complications, difficulties and challenges. Modern obstetrics has become far more complex and complicated but we need to strive for safety wherever a baby is and in whatever context a baby is delivered. Safety and a quality outcome have to be the number one priority for mother and child. The Minister is feeding into a new strategic direction. It seems to me that one of the issues this recent controversy has shown up again is that in health the institution seems to take precedence over the patient. I know I do not have the time to do so in this one-minute exchange, but we do need to reflect on that.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-06-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-09