asked the Minister for Health the percentage rate of domiciliary midwifery in this country; and the figures for other EEC countries, and for other countries, where available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Domiciliary Midwifery.
5.
I presume that the question refers to the percentage of all births which take place at home. For Ireland this figure was 0.45 per cent for 1976. In England and Wales it is about 4 per cent, in Scotland 1 per cent and in Northern Ireland 0.3 per cent. Detailed statistics are not readily available for all other countries. However, it has been reported that for the countries of northern and western Europe, with the exception of the Netherlands, domiciliary births account for less than 2 per cent of total deliveries. In the Netherlands the figure for 1975 was 4 per cent.
I would like the record——
The Deputy is misquoted again.
I am not misquoted. My original question sought the information for the Republic of Ireland. I am not surprised that Deputy Blaney does not believe that I am not misquoted.
(Interruptions.)
I want to assure the House that when I read this question on the Order Paper I checked with the General Office and they assured me that my original question was for the Republic of Ireland. Deputy Blaney will have to accept that when a Deputy makes a statement in the House that it is the truth.
What has all this to do with infant mortality?
(Interruptions.)
On a point of order——
This is not a point of order.
I want the record corrected and I want to put it on the record that my original question related to the Republic of Ireland. I want to have an assurance that in future when I send in a parliamentary question and seek information for this part of the country that it will not be confused.
The Deputy is well aware that the General Office frequently amend questions grammatically and to improve them.
It is insensitivity on the part of some members of the staff.