Can the Minister only ask?

On the same issue, as we speak, people are gathering outside for the march for maternity to call for an end to restrictions on partners attending maternity services. This has been a consistent call from families for more than a year now. Women are separated from the partners for much of their labour, visiting hours are still severely curtailed and partners are still banned from attending antenatal scans. How much of this a person is subjected to is still a complete geographical lottery.

The situation is now growing so farcical that from 22 October, a person will be able to attend a nightclub but partners will still be told to wait in the car park when they arrive at a maternity hospital for the birth of their child. What is the Government's response to the many women outside the Dáil right now and the many protesting remotely, some of whom are doing so from maternity hospitals? They are saying that the Government urging hospitals to do something simply is not good enough and obviously is not working. The question, therefore, still remains - who is in charge and what is the Government going to do about this?

I have answered the two previous Deputies and it is an important-----

The Minister has not actually answered the questions, though. What is he going to do about it? Who is in charge?

The Deputy might let me answer this one. It is a very serious and emotive issue on what is for many families a very special day. We must also recognise the fact that we are still living with Covid-19 in the community right now.

People can go to nightclubs on 22 October.

The Minister, please, without interruption.

I am not talking about nightclubs. I am talking about hospitals and maternity hospitals.

There is a big difference between a nightclub and a delivery ward.

I have been very clear in what I have said today. The Government has issued guidance on it. The HSE is committed to keeping any restrictions that are in place under review. Let us be straight with people as well. Covid-19 is still in the community. People are still being hospitalised with Covid. We have to manage those who are vaccinated, and, perhaps, also those who have symptoms and assess how that can be managed. I think most of us through the pandemic - not all, but most - have respected and taken on board clinicians' advice.

I thank the Minister; his time is up.

In this instance, though, I have been very clear on what I have said on maternity hospitals. Where hospitals can allow unfettered access, they should. The Minister for Health has also been very clear on that.