Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, there would. The fact of the matter is that the legal team operating now for Praveen Halappanavar has requested that the HSE would conduct all business through its legal team. I heard the solicitor speak about this on the national airwaves this morning. I would appeal directly to Praveen Halappanavar, who is a decent man, to meet the chairperson of the investigation team, without prejudice, because it is very necessary that the truth of these circumstances be found out - all of the documentation and all of the contracts in this public hospital are within the structure of the HSE. The eminence and integrity of the chairman of the investigation team will be added to by persons of competence and experience from outside Galway University Hospital, who have nothing to do with the hospital, to determine what happened in the lead-up to the unfortunate and tragic death of Savita Halappanavar. I think that is in the interests of everybody.

I heard the legal advice this morning that a public sworn inquiry would be conducted inside seven days. From our experience in this country, this is clearly not the case.

I appeal to Mr. Halappanavar to meet the chairman of the investigation team without any prejudice to his views or future feelings towards it. Comments attributed to the man in the national newspapers are very different from what I see emanating from his legal team. We need to find out what happened here. It is essential. There is a difference because what was attributed to him was that what he wanted was no person from Galway University Hospital associated with the investigation team and this will be the case. It is very important that the truth and the circumstances leading to the death of Savita Halappanavar be found out in the family's interest, in the country's interest and in respect of reassuring and giving confidence to women in particular that the highest standards of professionalism, competence and service are available in the maternity hospitals of the country.

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