Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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752. To ask the Minister for Health the comfort that can be given to parents and the steps that have been taken to ensure that a repeat of a situation (details supplied) does not reoccur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33616/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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This matter has been the subject of much discussion in the House, but I wish once again to express my sympathy to those families in Cork who experienced the tragedy of losing a beloved child and then had the distressing experience of learning that the organs of their child were disposed of without their consent.  The HSE, South/South West Hospital Group, Cork University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital have rightly apologised to the bereaved families and genuinely regret the incident.

I am determined that lessons are learnt to prevent such events happening in the future.  The HSE advise that the Systems Analysis Review being undertaken by the South/South West Hospital Group is ongoing and the Review Team have been engaging with the families affected.  I fully intend to act on any recommendations to emerge from this review once it is complete, while work is continuing on drafting the Human Tissue (Transplant, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill which will, among other things, introduce a regulatory regime in respect of hospital post-mortems.

As the review into this specific incident is being led by the South/South West Hospital Group, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the HSE for direct reply.