I spoke with a legal representative of the family whose healthy child was recently aborted at the National Maternity Hospital. This is a desperately tragic case. The family was falsely told that the child had a fatal foetal abnormality. The couple claim that their child would be with them today, were it not for the actions of the hospital. They state that it was an illegal abortion and that the medical practitioners who signed off on the abortion never examined or met the mother in advance of the abortion. If that is the case, it is contrary to the law brought in by the Government and it is illegal. The family state that their calls for an independent investigation have been ignored by the Government and that they have had no real input into the terms of reference of the internal review which the Government is planning. They are shocked by allegations that the medical professionals signing off on the abortions have a commercial interest in the companies that produced the fatally insufficient test. This week, the bereaved family were shocked to hear that the State Claims Agency will indemnify the private company that carried out the fatally insufficient tests. They are furious with the Taoiseach for stating in the Dáil that this is a confidential issue. They believe he is seeking to sweep this illegal abortion under the carpet. Will the Government change the law, institute guidelines and carry out a fully independent investigation?

This is an individual case and a private matter. I am not party to all of the information from the family affected or-----

They wrote to the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, three weeks ago.

-----from the hospital's side. I do not wish to get involved in commenting on an individual case, even one that is very sad, such as this one, particularly when there may be legal proceedings under way. However, I understand that the Minister, Deputy Harris, wants and expects an external inquiry into the facts of the case to be carried out.

It is inappropriate to raise this issue in the House in such a manner.

The family asked that it be raised. They asked that we ensure it is not swept under the carpet.

Raising it in that way does the House a disservice.