Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Last week in this House I raised the importance of having an independent inquiry into the case of Savita's death in Galway. On that occasion I called on the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health to provide for an independent inquiry in the interest of truth and justice. I am delighted that an inquiry team has been appointed. However, I am disappointed with its composition. One of the requirements set down by the Minister was that the husband of Savita would be involved in the inquiry. Today we learn he has no faith in the HSE. I ask the Leader to intervene to ask the Minister to reconsider the format of the inquiry team and to appoint new members where necessary. In my view, one representative from UCHG is more than adequate on that team. The inquiry report should be produced as quickly as possible. This is a matter of great public interest.

The House will debate the report of the expert group but in my view we will need to have the results of the Savita case inquiry in advance of that debate. Such is the public concern. We do not know the facts of the case but the very sad and tragic death of this young mother-to-be is being used in some quarters as a motivation to promote abortion. This is not right, in my view. We need the facts of the Savita case as soon as possible so that we can consider it in its true light. We need to have confidence in the inquiry report and that is why we need the membership to be more independent than it is currently.