The State uses money to play the courts within an inch of a judge’s patience, writes Michael Clifford

A midwife who is suing the HSE over being wrongfully accused of malpractice is appealing for her action to be settled so she can access drugs that may save her life.

Midwife Philomena Canning has been battling the HSE in court for years. Now, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, she says her fight is over, writes Michael Clifford

A coalition of 50 groups is calling on the next government to hold a Referendum on repealing the 8th Amendment.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has met with the homebirth midwife who has been the subject of a long-running controversial HSE probe.

The HSE dropped the case against her... but Philomena Canning has not worked since then, writes Michael Clifford

A support group for midwife Philomena Canning has written to the Public Accounts Committee requesting an investigation into the loss of public money in the process that saw Ms Canning suspended from work and subsequently reinstated.

We can only have confidence again in our maternity services by way of a wholly independent, root-and-branch evaluation followed by swift action to effect radical change, writes Victoria White

PHILOMENA CANNING has been allowed to return to work. Three weeks ago, the last time this column visited the State’s attack on Ms Canning, that phrase was hardly imaginable

The HSE has reinstated the indemnity insurance for home-birth midwife Philomena Canning, opening the way for her to resume her practice.

Last week, we heard a powerful, well-connected individual was apparently being subjected to “Kafkaesque” treatment by the State. The claim reeked of hyperbole, and lacked all credibility.

MATERNAL care in this country was under the microscope last week with the inquest into the death of Sally Rowlette.

A mother who is at the centre of a HSE investigation into prominent midwife Philomena Canning has come out strongly in favour of Ms Canning, saying that she was "very professional and careful and strictly followed the rules given by the HSE".

This State would appear to have little time for anybody who stands apart from the herd. Time and again, whether it’s the musings of economist Morgan Kelly or the revelations of a number of whistle- blowers, organs of the State tend to close ranks and shut out dissonant voices.

An expectant mother who lost her High Court case to require health chiefs to enable her to have a home birth has been left in limbo after the HSE failed to show up for a hearing on the costs of the action.

INDEPENDENT midwives working in the community will continue to be insured by the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO).

THE number of women having Caesarean sections in Ireland has increased by a staggering 81% since 1991, leading midwives to claim that many mothers are enduring risky surgery when it is not medically necessary.

THE home birth mother whom the Attorney General was asked to force to have a Caesarean section against her will has spoken of the ordeal she was put through while in labour with her baby.