Conor D McGuinness urges access for Irish-funded Gaza maternity unit
Conor D McGuinness highlighted that over €41,000 was raised in Waterford to fund a mobile maternity clinic for Gaza but the unit is stuck in Cairo and is not being permitted entry. He urged the Taoiseach to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to secure immediate access and to use Ireland's voice at EU and UN level to demand safe humanitarian medical access for mothers and newborn babies in Gaza.
Fundraising and the blocked unit
Over €41,000 was raised by Gaelers on Gaza in Waterford to fund a mobile maternity clinic. The unit is currently stuck in Cairo because it is not being permitted entry to Gaza, while Gaza's health system has been described as devastated.
Conditions for mothers and newborns
The speech noted that pregnant women in Gaza are forced to give birth in unsafe, dangerous and inhumane conditions, underlining the urgent need for the mobile maternity unit to reach patients in Gaza.
Request to the government
Conor D McGuinness asked the Taoiseach to urgently intervene and to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to secure immediate access for the Irish-funded mobile maternity units. He also urged that Ireland use its voice at EU and UN level to demand safe humanitarian medical access for mothers and newborn babies without delay.
Government response and follow-up
The Taoiseach thanked McGuinness and his constituents for the fundraising and said he would ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to enquire with the Irish Embassy in Cairo about the issue. The Taoiseach committed to see what assistance Ireland can provide and to revert directly to McGuinness.
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Over €41,000 was raised by Gaelers on Gaza in Waterford to fund a mobile maternity clinic for women in Gaza. This unit is currently stuck in Cairo in Egypt because they are not being permitted entry to Gaza. At the same time, as you know, Gaza's health system has been devastated and pregnant women are forced to give birth to conditions that are unsafe, dangerous and inhumane. Will you urgently intervene and ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to do likewise to secure immediate access for these Irish funded mobile maternity units? Will you use Ireland's voice at EU and UN level to demand safe humanitarian medical access for mothers and newborn babies in Gaza without any further delay? Thank you for highlighting the issue and thank you to your constituents and the community for the incredible amount of fundraising they have done in raising €41,000 for a maternity care unit that is urgently needed no doubt. In Gaza where their health services have been obliterated and utterly decimated. I will ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to enquire with our own Embassy in Cairo in relation to this issue to see what assistance Ireland can provide and to revert to you directly.
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