James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It will not be possible to answer all of the questions asked in two minutes.

Patient safety has been my priority. It is the priority in the national service plan for the HSE. We have made available specific funding to address the recommendations made in the HIQA report on the death of Savita Halappanavar and have had monthly updates. A recent update shows that great progress has been made in implementing all of the recommendations. I have asked the HSE to bring forward the patient safety agency on an administrative basis so as to get it up and running as quickly as possible.

With regard to Portlaoise hospital, the issue will be fully investigated. We will use this matter to address and fix the problems in the hospital, not to downgrade it. The plan for the hospital will be created by the new hospital group. The clinical treatment questions must be addressed and answered. What was very disturbing was the way in which patients' families had been dealt with by the hospital and the HSE. That has to change and will. If ever there was a case that demonstrated the need for a patient safety agency, this is it.

I thank Roisin and Mark, Shauna and Joey, and Natasha for taking the time to tell me their stories and raise their concerns. They will be addressed in full.

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