The reports of the premature and sudden death of Savita Halappanavar and her baby in University Hospital Galway are particularly tragic, harrowing and shocking to all concerned. We all extend our sympathies to her husband, Praveen, and their families at this sad time for them.

For decades Ireland has had and has always aimed towards the lowest maternal death rates in pregnancy and during childbirth. This has always been a fundamental aim of our country and our society. By any international standards we have one of the lowest maternal death rates in pregnancy and during childbirth, and certainly one of the lowest in Europe. That is cold comfort to Praveen Halappanavar this morning, however. It is because maternal deaths are so rare and this particular death is so shocking that I believe we need an independent inquiry outside of those already established, comprising personnel from outside the country, to establish the full circumstances of the death of Savita Halappanavar at University Hospital Galway. An internal inquiry in itself will not suffice. While the hospital group and the Health Service Executive, HSE, will conduct their inquiries, there is a precedent for a ministerial inquiry such as I have proposed.

Confidence in our maternity hospitals and services is paramount and absolutely essential. It is also important for the Legislature to be made fully aware of the circumstances surrounding this particular death as independently as possible so that informed analysis can take place. It is necessary, given the rarity of such deaths in our maternity hospitals. Does the Taoiseach agree that an independent inquiry, conducted outside the group of hospitals in question and the HSE, is required?

First, I would like to extend our sympathy to Praveen Halappanavar on the death of his wife, Savita. This is a case of maternal death in which a child has been lost, a mother has died and a husband is bereaved. That is a tragedy.

It is true that we have exemplary standards in our maternity hospitals. The fact that this young woman lost her life is a personal and family tragedy. No words of ours here can deal with that loss. It is appropriate that we do not rule anything out, but there are two investigations going on: the internal investigation by the Galway-Roscommon university hospital group, and a second by the HSE national incident management team. It would be appropriate for the Minister for Health to receive both of these reports, and that we then consider them and decide on the best option. It is important and imperative that the standards that apply in our maternity units are kept at the highest level of professionalism and competence. For that reason, I do not rule anything out. However, it is only appropriate that the two investigations being conducted be allowed to conclude, that the Minister for Health receive those reports and that we consider them at that point.

I want to make it clear that my objective here is not political. I am a layperson but, from a preliminary reading of this matter, it seems to me this woman should not have died in these circumstances. I accept that this is a subjective early assessment, but there are a range of issues involved. First, a woman has died in circumstances which are rare in Ireland and, accordingly, an exceptional response, such as an independent inquiry, is required. That does not exclude the internal inquiries that are under way. It might be useful if those involved were aware there was to be an external independent inquiry. Whether we like it or not, people will not have confidence in an internal inquiry. Questions will inevitably be raised about it as, unfortunately, they have been in the past. This is why it is important that an external independent inquiry is established and that it reaches across to the other issues about which one can read in the newspapers and commentary this morning. When the independent report on the A, B and C case is published, people will draw conclusions. That is why we need, above and beyond everything else, a clear, independent clinical inquiry into what happened in this case and why this woman lost her life in such circumstances.

I submit to the Taoiseach that we need that and I call on him to give that commitment to have such an independent inquiry.

Nothing we say or do here will bring back Savita Halappanavar or make up for the loss of a wife and child. I do not believe we should say anything about this until we are in possession of all the facts. I do not want to decry in any way the capacity of the internal investigation being conducted by the Galway Roscommon university hospitals group nor to decry in any way the investigation being conducted by the HSE national management team. In the interests of this case and for all others, the Minister for Health should be able to receive both those investigative reports and to analyse them based on the facts as they are determined by the professionals in both investigative teams. We should then decide what is the best option based on the facts. I do not wish to say anymore about the case because neither Deputy Martin nor I are in possession of all the facts.

Legislation might help.

I can confirm to Deputy Martin that the expert group report into the A, B and C v. Ireland case has been completed. The report was delivered yesterday evening to the Department of Health. The report has not yet been seen by the Minister, who is in Cork this morning. Obviously, he will read the report, reflect on it and bring it to Government when he is ready to do so.