Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To set the context, I would like to comment briefly about the response to the whole tragic controversy. While I understand the pressures that are on the system since the controversy broke, I would like to highlight one particular case that really brings home the anguish and worry of women across the country, and that is the case of Jacinta Doyle. She is a Wexford woman and mother of two who had a smear in 2011 which did not flag any issues but, in 2012, when she presented to her doctor with chronic back pain, she was referred for a scan - which she had to pay for privately, incidentally - and that is when her diagnosis was made. My concern is the ongoing firefighting approach we have seen since the controversy broke. This lady spent 12 days trying to get answers as to where she goes next. She initially called the helpline on 28 April but got no response. She then called on 3 May but got no response. She then contacted CervicalCheck via a Facebook post on 7 May. It was only on 10 May that she was told her original smear was tested in the US and that this lab was no longer used.

That constant drip-feed of these stories we hear in the media is not reassuring to the women of Ireland. Furthermore, from a general practice point of view, it is only really in the past few days that we have got any clear direction in order to provide the free smear programme, which GPs are more than happy to do. While it is clear that, for patients with medical cards, we can use an STC, or special-type claim, and put the medical card number on it, for private patients I understand we are instructed to use the patient's PPS number. Can the witnesses clarify if there is a breach of data protection, as I understand there may be some issue in this regard?

Second, Dr. Holohan stated in his submission:

It has become clear since the case that the non-disclosure of clinical audit findings was widespread. It has also become clear that the issue of disclosure was the subject of dispute among some elements of the relevant clinical community. I can provide assurance that the Department was not aware of these issues until this controversy arose...

It is very difficult for people watching this today to understand or believe how this could be the case. I would like an answer as to how the Department was not aware of this until the controversy broke. Really and truly, the women of Ireland need reassurance about this. While I am not suggesting Dr. Holohan is misinforming the committee, it is very difficult for people to understand this.

Dr. Holohan said he has been chief medical officer for the last ten years and he has escalated many issues to various Ministers, be it Ms Harney or Deputy Martin, over the years. He has a long-standing history of doing this, which is to be welcomed. Why did he feel this was not an issue that needed escalation?

In hindsight, do the witnesses feel this decision was a misjudgment?

Looking at the Minister's diary from 26 November 2015, I can see that the then Minister for Health attended a HSE directorate meeting. Did any of the witnesses attend that meeting?