Karen Coleman returned from her summer break to Newstalk 106 this weekend and today’s programme included a discussion on access to IVF for single women and lesbian couples. Earlier this week the British Fertility Service recommended access to IVF treatment under the NHS for single women and lesbian couples.

The discussion included input of Dr. David Walsh, MD MRCOG of the SIMS clinic in Dublin and Dr Martine Millett Johnston MRCOG from the Kilkenny Clinic who are the sole provider of fertility services to single women and lesbians in Ireland. IVF services in Ireland are not available through public health services and indeed there is very little regulation of the services. Dr. Walsh defended his clinics policy not to provide services

Also on the line was Susan Phillips, introduced on the programme as a political analyst (ummm that’s a new one!) and former Wicklow County Councillor. Susan has appeared on the pages of Maman Poulet before. She has long been an opponent of equality for lesbians and gay men as Maman Poulet debate sodomy with her on RTE Radio as far back as 1993.

Her input this morning decried lesbian couples as selfish for opting out into their chosen lifestyle and coming back in a later stage to be more female and want to raise a child. Ms. Phillips also disputed existing research which shows that children raised in same sex couples are not at any disadvantage from their upbrining

Dr. Martine Millett Johnston defended the policy of her clinic to provide treatment to these client groups and outlined the safety checks operated by her clinic in determining treatment.

The item was brief enough and did not dwell on the difficulties faced by all couples and single women in accessing the services from a finacinal viewpoint. For Maman Poulet however there were glaring omissions in the editorial direction of the piece.

Where was the political analysis of lesbian women in the production of this item? Why should one lay woman who has a variety of different titles depending on which programme she appears on, have access to the airwaves and no other lay person be invited to appear during the discussion?