Mr. Ciar?n Staunton:

It is difficult to say why but let me provide some stark figures. Over 11 million people in the world die each year from sepsis. Fewer than 10 million die from cancer. Most people would say that cancer is the largest killer but sepsis is the largest killer of children in the world. Putting all that together, one might ask why there is not a national medical emergency for sepsis here. The HSE figures show it is almost 3,000 and rising. When Dr. Healy and I went to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, in Washington, there was not one piece of paper with sepsis on it. After Rory died, when we looked at the website under the letter S, there was nothing for sepsis. When we set up the international sepsis alliance, we were taking the lead on this. The chair and committee members are saying today is that not enough has been done but the buck stops now. I think out of here it will go.

As I said, one week I was in the pizza shop with my fine son being asked what kind of pizza we wanted. The following week I was in a funeral home and was being asked what kind of coffin we wanted.

That is the reality we need to bring back. People need to say that this is a national emergency happening to our children and parents. I think that is what needs to come out of here to move forward.