Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am very glad to hear the Minister mention the role of clinical genetics. If they had been utilised in this case, this simply would not have happened. If there had been an external review, the parents would not have felt the need to go to the High Court to highlight the circumstances of this case. Hospitals cannot be allowed to review themselves.

I thank the Minister for expanding the number of public interest directors in the new national maternity hospital. That is an important response to cases like this and many others, where parents highlight problems within maternity hospitals and where maternity hospitals do not listen and do not allow for external review. That is essential. This happened in 2019, the parents met the Minister in July 2021 and the terms of reference are from 29 April 2022. It is essential that clinical genetics are included in the review. Parents need to have sight of that and I am not clear as to whether Rebecca and Pat have had sight of that on foot of the correspondence with the HSE. I see that a letter has been sent to their solicitor but I am not sure whether they have had the detail that is appropriate.

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