15 December 2006
An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Henry that she proposes to raise the following matter on the Adjournment:
The need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to restore Irish Aid funding to the maternity services in Bethlehem immediately.
Dr. Henry: I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment. I thank the Minister of State for attending the House. Some 2,006 years ago, there were problems with the maternity services in Bethlehem. The story of the Blessed Virgin Mary giving birth in a stable and putting her new-born child in a manger is at the centre of our Christmas celebrations. Today, however, there is little to celebrate for the people of Bethlehem, a town of 30,000 people which is in a state of turmoil with danger all around.
The Palestinians in that area are some of the most destitute people in the world. The Palestinian Government has no funds to pay salaries or provide public services. As the Minister of State is aware, yesterday, the Prime Minister of Palestine was prevented from bringing $30 million in aid that he had succeeded in raising in other countries to his people. In addition, Israel is not allowing money due to the Palestinians from taxes to be paid either. The only money that is getting into the area at the moment is foreign aid, and especially that which comes from the European Union. There are terrible problems for everyone there, but one group of people, pregnant women, will now have even fewer maternity services. Their well-being is seriously compromised by a lack of trained staff in the Holy Family Hospital and other small maternity units in the West Bank.
For a long time, Irish Aid was involved in funding postgraduate courses in Bethlehem University. Among other postgraduate courses, Irish Aid supported midwifery training for nurses. It was hoped that a course with direct entry to midwifery might be established soon because there is an international shortage of midwives. Two of my nursing colleagues have contacted me about this matter. They felt that when Irish Aid withdrew its funding for postgraduate courses, it did not understand that the midwifery course would be affected as well. In the recent past, an assessment was carried out by some British advisers who recommended that Irish Aid should stop funding these postgraduate courses in Bethlehem University and put its money into primary education, another area where there is considerable deprivation. This has happened, so I am not complaining that our money is not going there. However, even the United Nations has appealed for help to restart the midwifery courses.
I have frequently expressed my admiration for Irish Aid. It is not as if these nurses can travel elsewhere locally to attend another such course. As the Minister of State is well aware, the area is very dangerous. There is a course in Ramallah, which is 10 km down the road. That seems nothing to us but, unfortunately, it is too dangerous for people to go that far at the moment. Jerusalem is 20 km away, which is also impossible. In addition, it is out of the question to travel to Gaza city, which is 80 km distant.
The maternity unit in the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem is the only such service in the West Bank. There was a hospital in Beit Jallour but it closed recently, along with the few maternity beds it had, because staff were not being paid. I am quite sure no one in Irish Aid would want the situation for pregnant women and those delivering children to deteriorate in any way. However, the lack of money to train midwives is exposing pregnant women to greater risk. I respectfully ask the Minister of State to inquire if this aid can be restored immediately.
Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Mr. C. Lenihan): I welcome this opportunity to make a statement to the Seanad. I also welcome the Senator's initiative in raising this matter on the Adjournment.
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