Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I know something about the very sad case she raised but I do not know all the details of it. That is why I will be restrained in my comments. It was obviously an enormous tragedy for the family and I can only imagine what it is like to be told your child will be born with a severe disability, or perhaps not born alive, and to go ahead with a termination believing it is the right thing for all those involved, only to be told later there was a mistake in the test and that your child would have been born healthy. I cannot imagine it and I do not think someone could ever get over it, quite frankly. I welcome that the national maternity hospital has conceded liability. Once again, it is sad that liability, where it is conceded, is only admitted at the last minute and perhaps could have been done sooner. I would encourage anyone involved in such cases to be as sensitive and honest as possible in their dealings with those involved.

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