Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome any investigation that could shine light on this issue. There are women in Ireland who are physically and mentally under pressure because of what has happened during the last ten years.

How far can this committee probe and investigate? HIQA is currently conducting an inquiry and there will also be a public inquiry. Will the information be sub judice? If Members of the Oireachtas ask questions about the issues while an investigation is ongoing - whatever sort of investigation is set up by the all-party group of Opposition spokespeople - how far can we probe? I understand when a similar situation arose in 2008 there was no screening for cervical cancer until then. The then Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, brought it in during 2008. I understand that there were many laboratories in Ireland at the time that did not have the international accreditation to be able to carry out the tests, that they did not have the capacity to do them in Ireland and this is why the service was outsourced. That could be right, that could be wrong, I do not know. I am told the laboratories did not hold the international accreditation to carry out the tests and that this was part of the criteria for doing the tests.

How far can an Oireachtas committee go with regard to investigating this and will our hands be tied? Will we cross over into a danger area if an inquiry is ongoing when set up by the Dáil? Any light that can be shone on the issue or any relief that can be given to the ladies of this country will help. I wonder about how far we can go or whether we will have to get legal advice. Will our hands be tied on what we can ask and what we cannot ask? Will there be certain aspects we can visit or not? I would like to know how far we can go.