Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank the parents so much for coming. We have had different groups here, but this is probably the most harrowing day we have had. It has been mentioned that a hospital should be a safe place and I understand it should be safe. At the same time, there is human error and things happen that should not. I get the feeling that none of the delegates wanted to blame anyone in particular on the day, yet they have been treated so badly. Will they comment on this statement?

Mr. Ollie Molloy perhaps said it all when he said he had come to give his evidence and asked what would happen next. Those working in theatres and maternity units where babies are being born should do their jobs to the best of their ability. Things happen and things go wrong, but when it is over, there should be a no-blame policy. People should put up their hands and not drag parents, patients and others through the courts. The delegates said they had to use the freedom of information regime to get answers. They have been treated appallingly. What is really sad is that there are many other patients who have been treated as badly.

I asked last week and ask again now what, in the name of God, the people on management committees at local level were doing. They seem to be reporting to a hospital committee. We can blame the HSE. By God, it is not covered in glory and its representatives will be here later. However, if something can come out of this process, staff in hospitals - doctors, nurses, anaesthetists, whoever they are - should do their jobs and if something goes wrong, they should have empathy and deal with people in a humane way. When a woman goes into hospital to have a baby, she is so vulnerable and expects people to help her. She needs help. The people in question are all paid. This is not voluntary work and many of them are well paid. They should do their jobs professionally and when it is over and if mistakes have been made, they should, at least, treat people humanely and with empathy rather than covering up, running for cover, being afraid of being sued and so on.