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Updated at 4.40pm
THE DEPARTMENT OF Health says there are no plans to hold an inquiry into allegations that the bodies of hundreds of babies born to unmarried women in Ireland’s mother and baby homes were used in medical experiments after they died.
Last night, RTÉ’s Prime Time ran a special programme uncovering how hundreds of children at Irish institutions were used for medical research and dissected by medical students without their mothers’ consent right up until the 1960s.
The research also allegedly included vaccine trials in contravention of medical guidelines on captive populations. According to the programme, children’s residential institutions and mother and baby homes provided infants who could be monitored closely.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health told TheJournal.ie today that Reilly and Fitzgerald “deeply regret any distress caused as a result of any out-dated practices which are no longer in place or acceptable”.
The department is currently working on proposals for new legislation, the Human Tissue Bill, which will “provide for a strong consent framework for the donation of bodies to anatomy schools and will reflect current practices” in relation to the donation of bodies to anatomy schools.
Utter contempt
The Adoption Rights Alliance says that questions must be asked over the failure of previous inquiries and audits to reveal the extent to which the bodies of children intended for adoption were used in medical research.
It has called on the Minister for Health James Reilly and the Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald to set up an inquiry into the claims.
The medical practices shown in the programme demonstrate an utter contempt for children born outside of marriage and for their mothers, it says. The organisation also urged Fitzgerald to introduce legislation which will provide adopted people with access to their medical records.
The Adoption Rights Alliance helpline can be reached on 086 2359127
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It’s the…(British) Open! What’s next – Wembley hosting the All Ireland hurling final next year! Leave some things well alone!
@Barry Murphy: No, its just The Open.. here it is from the horses mouth https://www.theopen.com/latest/why-it-is-the-open-not-the-british-open
@Brian: Fair enough!
@Barry Murphy: Wembley hosts American football. Wembley’s not in America, is it?
Imagine willingly going to Dublin.
@Daniel Skelton: Happily
Its a British competition, no to it been held! Enough of this west brits trying tochange pur identity.
@David Byrne: Oh grow up will you, while we obviously have our own cultural identities, we slavishly follow British sports, media, music culture etc., so trying to pretend that we are completely unique in this little country of ours, is flogging a dead horse. I think it would be amazing to get the Open here, but yes I do realise that there are saddos out there like David who would oppose it on xenophobic grounds.
@David Byrne: then why is it in NI this year?
Yet wouldn’t entertain world rally stage. Typical.
@tiobraiddroicead: no one cares about that nonsense
They might as well just sponsor it,great lads to throw away taxpayer money
@Jb Walshe: I am sure lots if golf enthusiasts would come to Dublin. Government would more than get the investment back not to mention all the publicity. Besides plenty Irish Universities and government bodies sponsor sporting events and all our athletes in Paris are on Sports Ireland grants
@Peter Byrne: we have many sporting events Peter,including the Irish Open
@Jb Walshe: The Irish Open is not a major and cannot be compared with The Open.
The hotels be rubbing their hands at the prospect of this becoming a reality.
If the poor immigrants feel put upon maybe they could try they’re luck in a more friendly country I could make a list but it might take me a week or 2
@Paul: is that cause you’re slow?
Their. They’re. There.
@Alan OConnor: Dare, dare!
Portmarnock ?? You know the old saying …..
If Waterville, Ballybunion and Lahinch were on the east coast, you would never hear of Portmarnock !!!
@Lulu: just location, infrastructure etc, and we’ll plenty of hotels. Near airport.. lahinch would be brilliant, but not suitable for this size of crowd. U need space between fairways etc for stands
I would be surprised if it happened, what’s in it for the British? Why would they allow the biggest cash generator in their golfing calendar go abroad. It’s not like the tickets aren’t being sold.
Had a tour de France once. Geography should be a school subject.
Why is there some much xenophobia it’s.. the open..a cold competition. We are not giving up sovereignty and rejoining the UK.. get real.
Eamon Dunphy wanted to bring Wimbledon FC to Dublin. Let’s get over the Ryder Cup in limerick first before the Patriots get their stained shorts in a knot.
Unless they are immigrants there will no where to stay
Yes it’s a good idea. And ask RTE to film the whole lot for an extra bonus.
If RTE get broadcasting rights, they might need another Billion Euro bailout, Catherine Martin in on this as well, omg another sh#tshow guaranteed so.
FG are playing a blinder
have your say