If the British government was trying to incite public opinion here, it could not have done it a better way, the House leader, Mr Maurice Manning, said in response to continuing concerns voiced about the treatment of Ms Roisin McAliskey.
Dr Mary Henry (Ind) had complained that the treatment of pregnant women, including Ms McAliskey, in British jails was a cause for concern.
Dr Henry, who is a consultant physician at the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, said she had written to the British Home Secretary, Mr Michael Howard, explaining that many British doctors had been trained at the Rotunda, and that if he needed advice on how pregnant women should be treated, he could consult one of them.
Dr Henry called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Spring, to note that many Irish women were concerned about the treatment of Ms McAliskey.