Over 600 turn out for maternity cuts protest

Over 600 people took part in the protest against proposed maternity cuts in Dublin today.

Speakers such as Denise Livingstone of the Monaghan baby tragedy and Kathy Sinnott addressed the crowd, who marched to Government buildings from the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square.

Plans to cutback on the maternity service by the medical manpower forum could result in the closure of 12 of the country's 22 maternity units.

Maire O'Connor, spokesperson for the National Birth Alliance Group which organised the march, maintains it was the first protest of its kind.

"We had a fantastic turnout, we had a wonderful line of speakers. It is the first protest of its kind and on the platform everybody was in agreement that what we need is safe high, quality local maternity services for women."