David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I made it very clear to you and Dr. Holohan that that was my opinion. I am trying to separate emotion from my role, which is to put questions. That is what I have done and will continue to do.

I remind Dr. Holohan that on 29 June in a Q & A document which the Chairman will also have seen, it is stated that in 317 cases flagged for review there might have been an opportunity for earlier intervention. They included incidences of pre-cancerous cell changes that had not been detected and a delay in diagnosis and treatment. I can tell Dr. Holohan that if I saw that, it would be serious enough for me to move it up the chain.

I will move on to my next set of questions.

Who wrote the circular that was given to the hospital consultants? I know that it came from the office of the national director of strategic projects and transformation, but who wrote the circular to consultants saying that they had discretion?