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

I thank the delegates for their presentations. I have two questions. Having read Ms Courtney's statement, I was astonished to learn she had to go to England to have a doctor make a diagnosis or participate. It was unfortunate that no Irish doctor would support the case. I find that tragic. It tells us an awful lot about what happens when people fall victim to medical negligence. Ms Courtney is a victim of circumstances that went really wrong. That no doctor in this country would support her case or help to bring her to a place where she could gain some kind of satisfaction or relief is astonishing.

According to Mr. Boylan, the Medical Injuries Alliance has been in operation for the past four years.

How many cases has it dealt with in those years that are similar to Bríd'scase? I did not read it.

The only thing I can say to Ms Courtney is that I have a good friend who had a little boy four years ago. They are at the first stage of deciding whether they should do what Ms Courtney is doing. I have been trying to convince them, not as a politician but as a friend, that their beautiful little son is going to need a great deal of care, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As many have said, some people do not want to go to court. Ms Courtney is not going for money or for compensation. She is going in order to make the journey of her child's illness a little better. As these children get older, their needs are progressing all the time. I have been trying to hammer this home to my friend. Finally she has agreed to go to see somebody and have a talk with them.

I am a mother of five beautiful children, the youngest of whom is 21. Men will not understand this, but from the first day a woman feels the first pain that she is going to deliver her baby in the next 24 to 48 hours, one goes in with great excitement and joy, but also with a great deal of fear, because one tries one's best during the nine months of pregnancy to do everything that is right for one's baby. When the baby is delivered and everything is normal, it is wonderful. When the baby is delivered and everything is not normal, it is still a wonderful experience because a new life has been brought into the world.

I was taken aback when Ms Courtney spoke about the great joy that Bríd has brought to both their lives, because I know with my friend it is exactly the same. Her little son has brought great joy to them. However, their needs are huge. Things like getting a wheelchair, access to specialists, getting a vest that could help him because he has scoliosis, and so on are so important to them in the very early stages to take away the stress they are under and help them make their journey. That is what has put my friend off. She said: "I can't do this. I'm not able to struggle on." I want to tell Ms Courtney that I will see my friend this evening and I will hand her Ms Courtney's statement and tell her to read it, because Ms Courtney and her husband are an inspiration to everyone who has come through what they have come through. It is shocking that they have had to wait so long for somebody to tell us what all our mothers told us, "Tell the truth and shame the devil". Well done to them.