Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I think Deputy Donnelly made a fair point on the issue of laboratory accuracy. It is difficult for those of us who are not clinical experts to interpret the data that is being produced. I take assurance from the chief medical officer's statement that "none of the evidence that we have available to us at this point gives us any reason to have any concern about the quality assurance of the performance of the screening programme". Obviously, there is a reason we are having an independent scoping inquiry. It is important not to pre-empt that. I am not suggesting that Deputy Donnelly is doing this. The evidence available to us now is that the screening programme is safe and is working in line with international norms. The Deputy's final point on this issue was a political one. I will tell the Taoiseach that the Deputy enjoys seeing him on the television and would like to see more of him on television. I assure the Deputy that the Taoiseach, in his position as head of Government and as a doctor, has been extremely supportive of me in a hands-on way as we have been dealing with this difficult situation. I do not have any concerns in that regard.