Earlier, the Tánaiste said that it was Government policy that the maternity restrictions are essentially lifted but that he recognised the right of individual hospitals to make their own decisions, which essentially leaves us with the status quo whereby maternity restrictions will remain in place. This begs the question as to who is in charge of our health service. Is the Government in a position to actively direct the hospitals to follow Government policy in this matter? There is little point in Government having radical listening exercises with women if it does not propose to actually hear what they are saying.

The Government is in charge of our health service or, at least, the public health service, but it has always been a principle of good government and good management of our health service that politicians and officials do not make clinical decisions.

The CMO has said there is no reason-----

I have never come across a situation whereby an official or a Minister would seek to override the judgment of the doctor or nurse in charge of infection control in a hospital. I would be reluctant to go down that path. That may be my bias coming from my background as a doctor. That could create all sorts of other problems. Hopefully, we are getting to the point where this does not arise.

The CMO has said there is no reason for the restrictions.