Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Colleagues have referred to the tragic story that emerged overnight about what happened in Galway University Hospital. Out of respect for Standing Orders, I will not mention the names of the persons involved. We agree that what happened to this unfortunate woman is tragic. Our first thoughts must be with her and her loved ones, in particular her bereaved husband. We must be fair to the medical professionals involved and await the reviews and investigations into the case. It would be wrong to campaign in the absence of the facts and the necessary medical knowledge. We can say it would be unjust to seek to use this case as a wedge to promote the legalisation of abortion.

On trying to consult people with the necessary specialty, this case appears not to be about the state of Irish law but may be about the diagnosis and treatment of infection in the first instance. There may even be medical negligence issues. We must proceed with great caution. There have been helpful articles in The Irish Times that I noted overnight.