In my response to the Deputy at the Oireachtas Committee last week I referred to a letter I had received in relation to one of the cases in Portlaoise. The communication I received was, in fact, an email and it was dated the 18th November, 2012. The information provided in this email was confidential and it would be inappropriate of me to provide details of the case without the consent of the individual who contacted me. I hope the Deputy will understand my desire to maintain this confidentiality.
I first became aware of the other cases in Portlaoise on foot of the Prime Time Investigates programme. I immediately requested the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of my Department to conduct a review of the safety of Portlaoise Hospital Maternity Services. I published the report of the CMO on the Perinatal Deaths at Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise on 28th February, last. The CMO's report is far reaching. It makes 42 recommendations and 11 overall recommendations, all of which I have accepted. It not only sets out the immediate requirements for assuring safety for women attending Portlaoise Hospital Maternity Services but also provides the strategic direction for maternity services in Ireland generally.
