Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to extend my deep sympathy to the family of Savita Halappanavar on her sad and tragic death. Having listened to recent interviews with her husband, Praveen, one can only imagine the pain that he is experiencing. It is added to by his view that she was denied life-saving treatment to which she was entitled under the Constitution and a Supreme Court judgment.

I also wish to acknowledge the trauma that the health care workers who dealt with her case must be suffering. This extends to all of those who have experienced similar situations, such as the family of the late Tanya McCabe. A review of her death carried out by the HSE found that she had died from sepsis, with haemorrhaging as a complicating factor. The review team identified two care management problems. First, a working diagnosis of ruptured membranes was not made during Tanya's first admission to hospital. Second, septic shock was not recognised or diagnosed following her second admission and caesarean section. A number of recommendations were made, many of which are applicable nationally. I hope that the review committee appointed will examine whether these have been implemented. I hope that they have been. The report also recognised that the health care workers had undergone a significant trauma and suffered feelings of guilt and personal responsibility. I am sure that the same applies in this case.

Last month, Concern launched a mother-to-mother campaign dealing with maternal mortality rates. Ireland has one of the best records in the world, with a maternal mortality rate of 17,800:1. In Britain, the rate is 4,700:1. In France, it is 6,600:1. To depict Ireland as an unsafe place in which to have a child is incorrect and unfair to our medical practitioners. However, one death is too many. Savita's case, aligned with the imminent publication of the report of the expert group on the X case, has reignited the debate on abortion and the right to life. One associates the term "most divisive issue" with this debate. However, there is a large middle ground with much in common.

Although I await the report of the review group, some circumstances may require medical intervention to save the life of the mother. This is a complex issue. While most acknowledge that there is a problem, solutions are difficult to find. A charge of political cowardice has been levelled at the House, but a charge of an inability to achieve a satisfactory solution is more applicable. Legislation in some form will most likely be part of that solution. A study of the landmark cases in the USA - Roe v. Wade - and Britain - Rex v. Bourne - demonstrates the difficulties and consequences, as does the change in positions of Ms Norma McCorvey, alias Jane Roe, and Dr. Alex Bourne.

I commend the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health on their handling of this issue.

I hope we will all have an opportunity to deal with the upcoming report and what course of action should be taken because a course of action must be taken in a calm and considered way following a debate to which a relevant period of time is allocated.

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