Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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678. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the investigation of the incineration of babies' organs at Cork University Maternity Hospital. [35510/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this relates to an operational matter it is being referred to the HSE for direct response to Deputy Gould.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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679. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the last meeting he held on the investigation of the incineration of babies' organs at Cork University Maternity Hospital. [35511/22]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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680. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the last request he made for information on the investigation of the incineration of babies' organs at Cork University Maternity Hospital. [35512/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 679 and 680 together.

I wish to again express my sympathy to the bereaved families and acknowledge the distress and upset that has been caused to these families. I am aware of the paramount importance of dignity and respect for these parents who have experienced the loss of a child.

Within the public health service, when an incident occurs, it is important that the health service where the incident occurred is responsible for ensuring that the incident is appropriately investigated, so that the service can learn from what went wrong to improve services in the future.

The HSE advise that a Systems Analysis Review of the incident is ongoing. The Review Team continues to have ongoing engagement with the families affected.

This incident was originally advised to my Department via the Patient Safety Communications Protocol on 12th May 2020. Officials from my Department have been liaising directly with the HSE on this matter since this time. Following requests from my Department, 18 updates have been received from the HSE with the most recent update provided on 14th June 2022. 

I have been provided with formal briefing by my officials on five occasions. They continue to engage directly with the HSE and to brief me on developments.

The HSE advise that the Review Team are currently engaging legal opinion on the draft report before sending to participants in accordance with factual accuracy checking and fair procedures. Once this process is complete the final draft will be shared with the families for input on factual accuracy checking.