Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy's comment is not relevant here. In all the comments I have made about any of these matters, I have tried to be as understanding of the position as one can be. The situation is that there is no need for some of the language I have heard in the past, based purely on speculation, dealing with the lives of women and the lives of their unborn children. That language is not necessary. It should not be the case that anybody in this country refers to women as being some kind of impediment to their children and to the lives of their children. This is much too serious an issue for that kind of glib comment and I do not accept it from Deputy Daly.

The tragic circumstances that arose in Galway can never bring back Savita Halappanavar to her husband, who has lost his wife and her unborn child. The jury and the coroner's inquest concluded with a unanimous verdict of medical misadventure and the jury adopted unanimously the nine recommendations made by the coroner, Dr. Ciarán McLoughlin, who conducted the inquest with a very high degree of professional competence. The HSE is considering the recommendations made by the coroner and some of them are already under way as part of the ongoing clinical and patient safety initiatives within the HSE - for example, the introduction of an early warning system for obstetrics and gynaecology nationally. The HSE presented the final draft report to the solicitor for Mr. Halappanavar on 29 March for his observations and his feedback and I understand the chairman, who is independent of the investigation team, offered to meet Mr. Halappanavar whenever appropriate. Arrangements have been made to set up that meeting.

I do not have the details with regard to the inquest to which Deputy Daly referred in Dublin. I suggest the Deputy request a Topical Issue discussion in respect of the data protection issues.

In regard to the Deputy's third question on legislation with regard to the issue of circumstances in which there is a real and substantial threat to the life of a woman, that matter is under active consideration by the Government. When the Government decides to approve the heads of that Bill, it will be sent to the all-party Oireachtas committee for its observations and for preparation of the legislation involved.

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