HSE inquiry into maternal death
Senator Burke argues that the HSE must investigate the death and defends the experience of the appointed inquiry team. He asks the Leader to urge the Health Minister to proceed quickly while leaving open a later public inquiry.
As I said yesterday, the person who was appointed as the chairperson has a lot of experience-----
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We are not dealing with the chairperson of the inquiry. Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
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I do have a question. In this case, the HSE is obliged to carry out an inquiry because it is contracted to provide health care services in this country. A very serious incident occurred where there was a tragic loss of life and therefore the HSE is obliged to carry out an inquiry into what went wrong. The team that has been selected is very experienced and is under the chairmanship of a very experienced person. As I outlined yesterday, he went into a hospital in the UK to put new structures in place-----
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I ruled on this matter yesterday. We are not discussing the chairman of the inquiry team.
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-----where there were ten maternal deaths in a three-year period. He has a lot of experience.
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I ruled on this matter yesterday. We are not dealing with the independence of the chairperson of the inquiry.
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In fairness, this is a matter where-----
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Yes. It is important that the message be conveyed to the Minister that the inquiry be held at the earliest possible date in order that the facts are made available to the public. The structure that has been set up is the proper way of dealing with the issue and that does not prevent a public inquiry being held at a later date, if necessary. At least let us get all of the facts out in the public domain and the inquiry as set up is the way to do that. I ask the Leader to convey that message to the Minister for Health.