Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When I saw the "Prime Time" programme last Thursday night, I was saddened and shocked. It was all news to me. I was not aware of any of the four cases in which babies died at Portlaoise hospital. I had not heard about it and I did not know the families involved. Our hearts went out to those parents and they have our deepest sympathy and support. Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting two of the finest people I have ever met, Róisín and Mark Molloy, and they talked about the death of their baby, Mark. We also touched on the issue of the other baby, Joshua, whose name we know. I do not know the other children.

Róisín Molloy said that this was about one issue: equality of care for people in the maternity unit in Portlaoise compared to treatment available in other maternity units. There are 2,500 births per annum at the unit, but certain basic equipment should have been in place. I cannot say for certain but it is possible that such equipment would have reduced or prevented the risk of death for baby Mark. We will never know. The parents and staff in Portlaoise hospital are entitled to have basic equipment which is available in other units. We need to restore confidence in the unit.

There should be an independent HIQA inquiry and it should engage with the families. No HSE or Department of Health review is acceptable. Senior people in the Department of Health and the HSE were involved in cover-ups and denial for several years. People with knowledge or those who were made aware of it should step aside and take no part in any inquiry. The question to be asked by HIQA is whether this has happened in other maternity units. It took "Prime Time" to highlight this. We all need to know whether this is the case. It appears the HSE felt that if it denied it and covered up for long enough the parents would go away. That is not true of Mark and Róisín and they are to be commended on that.

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