Ninth Plenary of the North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association

Representatives from all the main political parties of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Houses of the Oireachtas who gathered today in the Ballymascanlon Hotel for the ninth plenary session of the North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association (NSIPA).

Representatives from all the main political parties of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Houses of the Oireachtas gathered today in the Ballymascanlon Hotel for the ninth plenary session of the North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association (NSIPA).

The Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl T.D., chaired the plenary session with his Co-Chair Speaker Edwin Poots MLA.  Both expressed their great pleasure that the Ninth Plenary Meeting of the North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association took place after a break of a number of years.

This meeting commenced with an informative site visit to the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre at Oldbridge House. The main topics for discussion at the plenary sessions were Quality, Affordable Childcare, and Perinatal Mental Health.  The meeting highlighted for members the work that is being done on these important issues and pointed to the work that needs to be done on the island of Ireland to support families with children.

Quality, Affordable Childcare

The Association heard from Orla O’Connor, Director of the National Women’s Council and from Pauline Walmsley, CEO of Early Years – the organisation for Young Children on the topic of Quality, Affordable Childcare.

The Association considered a range of points including the high cost of childcare, the difficultly some families have accessing childcare places and issues with the retention of qualified childcare staff and early child educators expressed by the expert guest speakers. 

There followed a substantial and considered discussion by members, who widely welcomed the debate and recognised its timeliness and relevance. Members discussed the importance of quality, affordable and accessible childcare to support families and the challenges of providing it in urban and rural areas.  Members noted the significant role and long-term positive impact it has on developmental outcomes for children as well as the importance of affordable childcare for the participation of women in public life.

Perinatal Mental Health

The second session focused on Perinatal Mental Health, with guest speakers Professor Deirdre Daly, Professor in Midwifery at Trinity College, and Dr Susan Hannon, Trinity College Dublin; and Dr Helen Connolly, Chair of the Perinatal Special Interest Group in the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Dr Julie Anderson, Chair of Royal College of Psychiatrists.

The Co-Chairs praised the guest speakers for sharing their expertise with the members of both legislatures and noted the importance of good maternal mental health during the perinatal period – that is, pregnancy and the first 12 months after giving birth - which is associated with multiple and inter-generational benefits for mothers as well as their children and families. 

There followed an in-depth discussion by members who noted that without treatment, perinatal mental health problems can lead to a range of adverse psychological, social, parenting and employment outcomes.  Members agreed the importance of the provision of perinatal mental health services and interventions given, that a lack of prompt and effective treatment can have serious consequences. 

Conclusion

The Co-Chairs praised the quality of the debates and insights from members, noting that the Association provided an ideal forum to bring members from the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly together to debate issues of common importance in a meaningful and constructive way.  

Members appreciated the contributions made by the guest speakers and look forward to the next meeting of the Association which will take place in Northern Ireland in 2025