Quotations from
John Gormley, T.D.
National Birth Alliance march
Saturday 5th April

"My friends this is only the beginning of this campaign. Our march today is based on a leaked report to the newspapers. When people begin to realise that this report is, in fact, a reality then I have no doubt that more people will join us.

This is a very serious development. It represents further centralisation of our maternity service. This will put even more stress on women and on the staff at our maternity hospitals, who are already overburdened.

Part of the reason why there is so much medical intervention in births now is that staff are required to get women in and out as quickly as possible. There is also, of course, the problem of insurance. This is why caesarean sections and inductions have increased dramatically over the last number of years. We in the Green Party believe that birth should not be treated as an operation; it should be as natural as possible. This is why we are so supportive of the Home Birth Movement. Birth is one of the defining moments in the life of mother, father and of course of the child. It is absolutely vital, therefore, that we get in right and all the evidence indicates that this government is not getting it right and, in fact, is making things far worse."

"I must admit that there are times when I feel somewhat out of place, as a man, talking about maternity services. It's a little bit like the birth itself, where there are occasions when you feel like a bystander. Obviously, no such considerations entered the mind of Micheal Martin when he selected the committee to deal with maternity services. The Medical Manpower Forum consists of fourteen men. Frankly it's a disgrace on an issue which is so important for women, not one woman was deemed worthy of selection."

© National Birth Alliance An Chomhghuallaiocht Naisiunta Breithe