Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Colm Burke asked about where we are going now. What happened in the past was referred to but, in light of what has happened in recent weeks, it is important that there is confidence in the CervicalCheck programme. A lot of inroads have been made into treating cancer in Ireland in recent years and it is regrettable that this has caused such damage. There are people working in the service who have given a lot of their time to reducing the impact of cancer on people's lives. There is an opportunity now for a new comprehensive programme for the reduction of the impacts of cervical cancer on people's lives.

One of the things that has led the women of Ireland to have a feeling betrayal is the title of the programme. The term "CervicalCheck" implies something like a car check, where everything is fine when one drives off afterwards but this is not the case and it is not 100% accurate. A combination of HPV testing and the HPV vaccine is the answer.

It is very important to highlight symptom reporting here. It seems to have been almost lost in the whole conversation. A woman's symptom reporting and awareness of her cervical health is fundamental to the outcomes here.

One of the things highlighted last week was the opportunity for reform of the HSE. We were able to home in on that aspect of the structure of the HSE. I think Deputy Kelly said that ten or 15 people, who are allegedly accountable, are involved in management positions. It opened up to many of us, who have worked on developing the Sláintecare report and who are members of this committee, much of what we have been saying for years - that too many people are in charge of areas but nobody is in charge.

That brings me to open disclosure, which seems to be the core part of the terms of reference. Medics, nurses and pharmacists are regulated.