asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the circumstances under which a baby died (details supplied).
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Infant Death.
3.
I understand from the Dublin Health Authority that the baby, who was three months old, was brought to the Cherry Orchard Hospital by its mother at 6.30 a.m. on Saturday, 30th January, and despite the most intensive medical and nursing treatment, the baby failed to respond and died at 4.50 p.m. on the day of admission.
Would the Minister be able to give details, which is what I asked, of the circumstances under which the baby died?
I understand that the mother gave her address as the Itinerant Camp, Cherry Orchard Cross. The baby was gravely ill and the mother had in fact not sought medical advice when the child had been ill for some days. The admission was arranged immediately. It is quite evident it was not the fault of the hospital authorities that the child died.
There is no such suggestion on my part. I am asking the Minister would the baby have been suffering from the condition hypothermia—where the body temperature is just below freezing point? This is what is terribly important.
I am afraid I have not got any particulars but the Deputy——
Surely the temperature of the baby would have been taken on admission, because this baby was exposed to the weather? This is the important aspect.
The Deputy will know from having read the newspapers that there has been a discussion about this, in relation to the county council and the Itinerant Settlement Committee. If he has any further observations to make he should address them to the Dublin County Council.
It is a pity there is not a bigger outcry about this unfortunate incident.
Question No. 4.
I take it that the Minister is not accusing the Dublin County Council of neglect in this case?
No, I only have a newspaper report to go on and according to——
It is unfair for the Minister to give credence to a newspaper report which is completely and absolutely untrue.
I have not said that the Dublin County Council were negligent. I have read that according to the report, the people concerned had been offered accommodation and had not taken it but——
It is a misleading view of what the county council——
(Interruptions.)
I take it the Deputy would make inquiries about this if he felt there were allegations which needed to be refuted, that he would be a person who would wish to refute them.
Has the Minister made any inquiries?
It certainly is not my function to make inquiries.
Why? The Minister says he is depending on a newspaper report.
As Minister for Health I am not responsible for the housing of itinerants. Quite definitely. I have quite enough to do without taking on that responsibility.
We are not saying that the Minister was responsible for the child's death but at least he should have made inquiries.
I did make inquiries and I have given the House the result.
The Minister said he was depending on a newspaper report.
We cannot debate this question. We have 169 questions to deal with.
Was there a post mortem on the baby?
I have not got any particulars about that.
I would ask the Minister to look into that. I should like to know if there was a post mortem and if so what was the result.
I will have a communication sent to the Deputy as to whether there was a post mortem.
Thank you. You will check that?