Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yes. I ask the Leader to urge the Minister for Health to consider an independent inquiry into the death of Savita Halappanavar under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004. People have said that any inquiry would be long, costly and complicated. However, this event is not comparable to others that have been subject to inquiry. Her death took place in a matter of days and we know the people concerned. It is not an inquiry that would go on. The Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 would allow the Minister to set up such an inquiry. With the approval of the Minister for Finance, the Houses of the Oireachtas can approve that draft and such a commission would be entitled to compel witnesses to give evidence. The evidence would be given in private but the report would have to be made public. I would trust this would allow Praveen Halappanavar to have the independence he so urgently requests and, in fairness, needs after his experience, not just with the death of his wife but in the way he has been treated subsequently and in the unfortunate events surrounding - it would appear - the lack of information regarding the files he has been given. As a matter of urgency I ask the Leader to request the Minister for Health to set up such an independent inquiry.