Louth Green Party

The Green Party Health Spokesperson called for the measure to be introduced throughout Irish maternity services as part of standard practice as a matter of urgency.

"There is a margin for error in scans, particularly in early pregnancy, and it is vital that a mother's instinct is fully valued and respected," said Senator O Brolcháin. "Many hospitals already carry out a second scan and I am calling for this to be made mandatory throughout our maternity services.

"As a father of five children with the experience of seven pregnancies, my heartfelt sympathies go out to all the parents who are concerned and worried at this time.

"A second scan must be carried out before a D&C procedure takes place and I will be calling on Minister Mary Harney to introduce this measure as soon as possible, concluded Senator O Brolcháin.

Louth Senator Mark Dearey has expressed his dismay at the latest scandal to have emerged from the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

"I want to congratulate the mothers who insisted on their right to full information, on their right to a second opinion, on their right to access their consultant, on their right to consent and on their right to avoid unnecessary suffering."

"In my view the need for the adoption of a Charter of Patient Rights has been underscored in a most distressing way by the revelations of the last couple of days."