Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is critical that the women of Ireland have confidence in the outcome of the inquiry into the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar. Last week, I called for an independent public inquiry in this regard. I repeated that request yesterday. While some progress is being made, it is not adequate. It is critical that the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health intervene to ensure an outcome that is satisfactory to both sides, including for Savita's husband Praveen. I take on board what Senator O'Keeffe said, namely, that the hospital has more than likely completed its own internal review at this point and that this should feed into an independent public inquiry. We need to know the truth and the facts and we need them soon. We need to have them prior to our consideration of the expert group's report on the X case.

As matters stand, the waters are being muddied. The absolute truth and all of the facts must be supplied in this case. I encourage the Acting Leader to convey my concerns and those of other Members to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health. There is a need for urgent intervention in order that this matter be resolved.

I am disturbed by reports this morning to the effect that a consultant who has been diagnosed with hepatitis C may have operated on hundreds of women in ten hospitals throughout the country. It is more than likely that the individual concerned was working in the area of obstetrics and gynaecology. I ask that the Acting Leader return to the House tomorrow with a report on the action that is being taken by the HSE with regard to this matter. That report should indicate whether the women involved have been contacted, outline the safeguards that are in place to ensure that doctors are vetted on an annual basis in respect of their own health and state the possible likelihood that doctors who are infected with particular diseases will pass them on to those in their care. Safeguards such as those to which I refer must be put in place in the interests of public health.