Births to non-EU nationals down sharply
07/01/2005 - 07:24:39The number of non-EU nationals giving birth in Ireland’s largest maternity hospital has reportedly dropped significantly since the Government’s referendum on citizenship rights.
Reports this morning said births to non-EU nationals at the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin currently accounted for around 5% of all deliveries, compared to 16% before the referendum.
The figures were released by Dr Declan Keane, the outgoing master of the hospital, who became embroiled in controversy ahead of the citizenship referendum amid claims that he was seeking a change in the law.
Dr Keane and the masters of other maternity hospitals had denied that they were seeking changes to citizenship entitlements as a means of dealing with the growing pressures their hospitals were under.
