Marie Sherlock

Overall sentiment: -0.10
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We are calling for a debate on the termination of pregnancy legislation. I want to pay tribute to Deputy Whitmore's niece, who spoke so powerfully this morning about her own experience of fatal foetal anomalies. It is eight years since that legislation was passed. The Government dragged its heels on the review. There has been no action on Marie O'Shea's recommendations, which are now three years old. For women and their families across this country, it is absolutely unacceptable and we should have a debate in this country on the Government's position.

Sentiment score: -0.24

Can and will the Taoiseach and the Government provide a clear statement on the future location of the Rotunda Hospital? We are now two and a half weeks on from the decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála. The rejection of the critical care wing proposal boiled down to two main reasons, which were conservation and the 11-year-old policy of colocation with Connolly Hospital. We all know that nothing has been done to make that colocation happen. Nothing is being planned at the moment. Yet we see replies to parliamentary questions from the Minister for Health that still reference Connolly Hospital in relation to the Rotunda Hospital. Department of Health officials were tying themselves in knots last Wednesday at the Oireachtas health committee hearing. I raise with the Taoiseach the serious concern that unless the Government makes a clear statement on the future location of the Rotunda Hospital, the ambiguity will jeopardise any future planning application by the Rotunda Hospital. For women and babies, we need that clarity and a lack of ambiguity from the Government.

Sentiment score: 0.05