Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, Dr. Holohan and Ms McGuinness for providing the report. The very basic rights of care - compassion and respect - are very important, whether one is going to a GP or a hospital and whether one is pregnant or going for any other reason. There seemed to be a failure in this case. The report made me very angry, sad and, above all, made me believe something broke down in a hospital that is meant to care for people. I am not fully convinced it was anything to do with staffing levels, as we do not need 20 or 40 people to have a bit of compassion in a room. Only one person is required to put an arm around another and say "sorry". It takes one nurse or doctor to hand a dead child back to a mother to allow her hold it. It does not take 20 people to do this. When we consider numbers and staff levels, it does not mean much with this report.

The words that stick out most are the conclusion of the report, which indicates that families and patients were treated in a poor and at times appalling manner, with limited respect, kindness, courtesy and consideration. These are the basic rights of any normal human being going about his or her work. Politicians are at times said to be heartless and without feelings, but if I did not have compassion and respect, among other qualities, in dealing with people on a daily basis, I would not be in this job. I would not have the right to be in it.

I am glad Ms McGuinness has indicated there will be disciplinary action when the report is finished. I do not believe that, any time of any day, people have the right not to do the job they are asked to do, particularly to care for people. The most devastating consequence is to lose a child, either during a pregnancy or at birth, as it leaves a parent with a terrible void. There is a constant question of whether things were done correctly and if the mother did everything right during pregnancy. These women will ask if they could have done anything before the birth of the baby that would have saved it.

The findings of the report are appalling and make for very sad reading. There is real reluctance for some to do their job right and in a compassionate manner. I hope when the report is published and people are identified as unable or unqualified in their job, they will be disciplined severely. A lady beside me is expecting a baby in a few weeks and I have a daughter and a niece expecting a baby, so I hope that staff in the hospitals they use will treat them with, above all, compassion and some dignity. It is a tough and anxious time for expectant mothers and fathers, as well as grandparents. We must see some compassion. God almighty, a parent holding a dead baby is a sad occasion and people should rally to do as much as possible. We failed these people dreadfully. The HSE has failed them, but most of all, staff have failed in a duty to perform as medical care workers.