Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have given a very clear response to both of those requests. I have no difficulty meeting Mr. Thawley. I have said that clearly. However, I believe there is an advantage in Mr. Thawley also meeting the clinical lead of the national women and infants health programme. This is an eminent man with significant clinical experience in obstetrics. I have charged him, as the clinical lead of our national women and infants health programme, with carrying out a review of the processes that have taken place to date in order to advise me on additional steps. I consider that to be the appropriate approach for anyone holding the office that I hold, in addition to asking Mr. Lynch, who has a patient safety and quality role within the HSE, to look at how the National Maternity Hospital dealt with its own internal review of the situation. Within days of hearing Mr. Thawley publicly seeking further investigation into his wife's tragic death, I made requests of Dr. Peter McKenna and Mr. Patrick Lynch. I do not have a difficulty with meeting Mr. Thawley and do not wish to be interpreted in any way as having one. If he finds benefit in it, I have no difficulty with it. However, in an effort to help Mr. Thawley, I would hope that he and his family would engage with Dr. McKenna and his team.

As the Deputy mentioned it, and I am glad he did, I have heard from Mr. Thawley's representative on the issue of the co-location of a national maternity hospital. I do not wish in any way to conflate those issues. In fact, when I made my public comments in that regard, I said I was not commenting on an individual case. I was making the broader point that, in terms of our maternity services, it makes clinical sense to have them co-located with acute adult hospitals for times when medical care is needed. I do not make that point in any way in relation to this specific case. I very much take Mr. Thawley's request on board in that regard.

Again, I extend my sincere sympathy to Mr. Thawley and his family on the tragic loss of Malak Thawley. I am happy to meet Mr. Thawley. We just need to work out, in his interest, the optimum way for it to happen. All of our interests are in helping to establish all of the facts that Mr. Thawley wishes to obtain.

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