Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the invitation to speak. It is very important that this hearing is being held. I am here in a personal capacity, different from everybody else here, in that my sister is the mother of Rory and of Kathleen. I pay tribute to Ciarán and Orlaith, and to Kathleen who is here behind me in the Gallery. Rory was her brother and her closest friend. He was her wonderful, amazing friend. Ciarán and I have different politics but Rory was very alert at 12 years of age and many a debate we had about Irish politics and where Ireland was going and where America was going. We agreed on people such as Bill Clinton.

Rory was an amazing person who brought light to his peers. He stood up and fought in his school for children who had disabilities. He insisted on equality and fairness in his life. I know that Kathleen, his sister, also has these qualities. Kathleen was speaking to my grandchildren last week telling them about Rory. They wanted to know where Rory is now. We know he is here, as are all of the people who have passed due to sepsis. They are all here because we have accountability and responsibility for them.

This is my role here today. I am not a member of the committee but my voice is loud and clear on this issue. I support fully the actions to be taken by the committee and the Joint Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen to ensure that all of the political parties in the coming election sign up to a programme, if we can put one together. If we all agree it, we can make it happen.

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, when it became aware of Rory's passing, met me and others. Every year, it runs a sepsis awareness campaign. Initially it was for a week. Everywhere in the hospital there are murals and paintings and there are people to advise on what sepsis is to make every person who visits the hospital aware of the evil that it is.

I will quote Senator Chuck Schumer, who is still the majority leader in the US Senate. He told Ciarán and Orlaith that rather than curse the darkness, they lit the light. Rather than curse the darkness, Karen, Joe and the Irish Sepsis Foundation are lighting the light. It is our job to make sure this flame shines brightly and clearly and dispels all of the myths and untruths so that people get the treatment they need. I very much honour all of the witnesses. The HSE will come before the committee later and we will ask it to explain its ways. It has been a privilege to hear the witnesses and I support them fully.