Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We welcome the appointment of the independent external expert in obstetrics to strengthen the incident management team's investigation into the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar. Yesterday the Taoiseach said he would not rule out an independent inquiry into Savita's death and this is an option that could and should still be pursued. There have been calls from the medical profession for a legislative framework to be introduced along the lines of the Medical Council guidelines. Two days ago the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, received the expert group's report. The expert group was set up to assess what had to be done following the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the A, B and C cases. He will obviously be studying it, but will the Tánaiste outline when it will be published? Surely it will be published as soon as possible. It has already been reported in the media that the export group does not recommend the introduction of specific legislation but discusses a number of options and it will be left to the Government to decide whether primary or secondary legislation is required.

Obviously, this issue brings out different opinions in people and communities across the country. Debates will, unfortunately, be heated, personal and, at times, irrational. As we know, every Deputy has been lobbied from all sides. I hope the tragic death of Savita will allow the expert group's report to be debated in an open, sensible and mature manner. We do not need to create more division. In this regard, we have three questions for the Tánaiste. Will he outline when the report will be published in order that it can be debated in the House? When will the Government be in a position to respond to it? Does it intend to refer it to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health?

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