Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to make a brief contribution to this important debate. It is my tradition on these occasions to compliment the Deputy who moved the original motion. In this case, it was moved by my former health board colleague, Deputy James Reilly. As others have said, he has given us an opportunity to express our support for those families which have been affected by this news. I listened carefully to the thoughtful address on this issue that was made by the Minister for Health and Children in the House last night. I join the Minister, Deputy Mary Harney, in sympathising with the various families.

I listened carefully, as I always do, to the speech that was made by my colleague, Deputy Mary O'Rourke. As she expressed her views, which I do not contest, I was reminded that one of my sisters had several miscarriages before she had her four children. It is good to draw on such experiences during a debate of this nature. Members might be interested to know that my local newspaper in Tallaght, The Echo, published a heart-warming story two weeks ago about a young woman I know well, Olivia Blanch-Dunne, and her two year old daughter, Ciara. The front page headline used by the newspaper was "They told me my baby had died" and the headline used inside the newspaper was "Birthday joy for 'dead baby' Ciara". It is an amazing story. Anyone who is not affected by these issues is not in the real world. I do not know the people who were involved in the first story that was broken in this case. I know the young woman in my constituency whose case I have mentioned.

As a Member of the Oireachtas, one is often affected by things that come to one's notice. As Deputy Darragh O'Brien said, it is important to support this situation. We could have a long debate about the HSE, which was mentioned by Deputy O'Rourke. I have views about where the HSE has come from and where it has gone. Like many Deputies, I come from a health board background as a former member of the old Eastern Health Board. Before I became a Deputy, I was the founding chairman of the old South-Western Area Health Board. I always took the view that the kind of model used in the case of Eastern Regional Health Authority should be strongly supported. I am sure Deputy O'Rourke does not mind me repeating her assertion that such bodies were capable of dealing with issues of this nature, which represent a particular challenge for the HSE. While I do not intend to kick the HSE this evening, it is important for the HSE authorities to understand the concerns of many communities in this regard.

I am reminded of my previous comments about the operation of the HSE at Tallaght hospital. I reiterate that it is important to restore public confidence in the health service. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle knows I could talk for a long time about issues that have arisen recently. Public confidence needed to be restored after problems emerged with X-rays at Tallaght hospital, for example. People were very upset when it was revealed that GP letters had somehow been lost. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, will not mind me saying that people are similarly concerned about the issue under discussion this evening. People in every family in the country, regardless of whether they have had children recently, are bound to be upset about this matter. There is a responsibility on the HSE to take whatever action is necessary to reassure every mother who, as other speakers have said, is probably wondering about the diagnosis she was given. While I do not refer specifically to my sister in that regard, I suspect that she, like others, is asking "if only" and "what if".

It is important that this debate is taking place. I thank Fine Gael for giving us the opportunity to discuss the matter. I ask the Minister of State to ensure the Minister knows she has our support in this regard. Action is needed if we are to reassure the public once more.

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