Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I echo the words of condolence for Saffie Rose and Georgina, the eight and 18 year old young girl and woman, who were the first victims from Manchester to be named today. We are heartbroken and we send our love and support to the people of Manchester.

Today I welcome the review published by the HSE into maternity care in this country. The clinical complaints covered four decades, with particular emphasis on the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. It was initiated following an RTE programme "Fatal Failures" in 2004, another whistleblowing programme on which I commend RTE. It also did a programme on Grace. It has done much over the past two decades to point out the absurdities and failures in this country.

The findings of the report and review cover 203 complaints received relating to perinatal death, maternal death, communication and the management of labour among others. It has taken too long, from 2014 to 2017, to get this report published today. This has exacerbated the stress and grief of those who lost babies in difficult and unusual circumstances. It is necessary that we learn lessons and implement recommendations which will help underpin quality compassionate care that is science-led in our hospitals for our women and babies. I hope the proposed national maternity hospital will get rid of any church and religious influences and will go along with science and compassion.