Professor Ann O'Doherty:

I am very sad that all we are focusing on is disclosure as I would dearly like to bring some understanding to the fact that we have such a high cancer detection rate and our programme is underpinned by such quality. I would like to focus on that and I hope that reassures women, as it is absolutely essential that women should be reassured by the quality of our programme.

Screening is different and in hospitals we have an open disclosure policy. This is not something we have suddenly come to. We have been watching this happening in England and we have learned from the experience there. It will make my life much easier and I will be very happy if we get formal open disclosure. We have already designed a consent form and we can give it to women.

We hope the State Claims Agency and legislators will do something to protect the screening programme. One of our concerns is that screening must be cost-effective. I have no desire to hide anything from anybody but the medico-legal position in this country is very different from other countries. It will be of great concern to me if we reach the stage where we cannot afford to do screenings. It is not that we have not been disclosing. We have been doing exactly what every other European and UK programme has been doing. We can just say that is what we have done. I am sorry if the Deputy thinks we have been remiss as we have been working very hard.