MEMBERS OF THE Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children will meet later today with Minister for Health James Reilly and Tony O’Brien, the director gender designate of the Health Service Executive.
The meeting will provide an opportunity for members of the Committee to raise questions regarding the delivery of health and social care services.
Fianna Fail’s Spokesperson on Health Billy Kelleher, who is a member of the committee, yesterday criticised Minister Reilly for not setting up a fully independent inquiry into the death of Savita Halappanavar, who died after being refused a termination procedure.
On Monday, the HSE announced details of the investigation into Mrs Halappanavar’s death. Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, an independent expert in obstetrics and gynaecology, will chair the investigation team into her death.
However, Mr Kelleher said that despite Sir Sabarantam’s experience, Minister Reilly has let his own ambitions get in the way of the inquiry.
“I believe Minister Reilly’s own ambitions for an inquiry that ‘stands up to the scrutiny of the world’ would be best served by an independent investigation. Savita’s death has deeply affected the public both at home and abroad, and there can be no room for any questions about the impartiality and objectivity of our investigation.”
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