Families to get report into incinerated organs 'within the next few weeks'
Leo Varadkar: 'It is an extremely distressing situation that should not have occurred.' Picture: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie
The Tánaiste has said the families impacted by the infant organ disposal scandal will have a HSE report on the matter "within the next few weeks".
Leo Varadkar also said planned new laws dealing with concerns about the scandal will come before the Government for approval by the end of the month.
On Thursday, the reported that Cork University Hospital (CUH), from where the organs of 18 deceased babies were sent to Belgium for incineration, had been accused of lacking compassion for not giving families access to a long-awaited draft copy of an investigation into what happened and making them wait for the final report.
Mr Varadkar said the "dignity and respect" of parents who have experienced the loss of a child is of "paramount importance" and the Human Tissue Bill is on the "priority list" of legislation.
The proposed legislation would provide a framework around the use of human organs and tissue used in post-mortem examinations.
Mr Varadkar said: "I just want to once again express my deep sympathy to the families in Cork who have experienced the tragedy of losing a child, and then had the devastating experience of learning that the organs of their child were disposed of without their consent, and that was wrong.
"It is an extremely distressing situation that should not have occurred, and it's only added to their distress and grief."
He told the Dáil that an HSE report on the matter is being finalised and he has been assured by the health service that it will be shared with the families affected "within the next few weeks".
"I understand the delay in the completion of this review has been very upsetting," he said. "But it's essential that correct processes are followed to ensure the facts of the case can be established and shared with the families affected.
"The draft bill is now being finalised as intended that it will be brought to Government for approval at the end of this month."
Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane said the delays from government and the HSE over the last two years have caused "huge hurt and distress" for the families involved.
"There can be no excuse for that delay. You're saying again - and we've got previous commitments only a few months ago in this house by the Taoiseach that it would be the autumn - you're now saying by the end of the year. That needs to happen. And the promises made today by you in this chamber need to be followed through."
Mr Varadkar said the delay in the inquiry was "impossible to defend".
"It's very, very difficult to defend from any point of view quite frankly," he said. "I understand that the draft report is the final report, that they are essentially the same thing, but I could be incorrect about that. And I'm told that it will be shared with the families in the next few weeks.
"But I appreciate they're not going to believe that until it actually happens, given their previous experience."
