Séamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I commend the bravery and determination of Vicky Phelan. Without her courage, we would be still in blissful ignorance of this scandal.

This is another shocking and shameful episode in the history of this State. Women have been again badly failed. On this occasion, 162 women had medical information withheld from them and, sadly, 17 have passed away. The scandal is the result of a toxic culture of dishonesty, cover up and concealment. It is a profound ethical failure and an appalling breach of trust. What is worse is that this policy of deliberate deceit was signed off on and agreed by the senior management of CervicalCheck. It was not the decision of an individual. The policy agreed by that committee deprived women of their absolute entitlement to know their medical conditions. It was also fraudulent because it deprived women of their entitlement to claim compensation if they so wished.

We must have accountability. The entire senior management team of CervicalCheck must resign or be removed. This scandal is the result of the neo-liberal policies of the Fianna Fáíl-Progressive Democrats Government and successive Governments since then. These policies were initially implemented by the extreme capitalist free marketeer and then Minister for Health, Mary Harney, supported by the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and then Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy. The policies have been continued to this day by successive Governments and Ministers.

The HSE was established specifically to allow Ministers to evade responsibility for our health services, including debacles and scandals such as this one. It was never fit for purpose. It should never have been set up and must be abolished forthwith. Its functions should be reabsorbed into the Department of Health, and the Department and Minister made responsible for the health services.

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