Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will begin with a comment on CervicalCheck and on the nursing issue. Deputy O’Reilly did not refer to this directly but she reminded of something I would like to raise. In recent weeks, I have seen an assertion that I, as Minister, should call in HIQA to examine some of the situations in regard to CervicalCheck. I must remind the Oireachtas that was my initial starting point when the CervicalCheck debacle began. I proposed a HIQA statutory investigation, where HIQA would have all the powers required to investigate all these matters. The Oireachtas quite rightly said that considering the circumstances I should bring in someone external, possibly from outside the jurisdiction. It was an instance of where engagement really works. That person was Dr. Scally, and he did the work. Mr. McCallion will respond to Deputy O’Reilly’s question directly but I wanted to take the opportunity to say that.

I will bring the committee up-to-date on the nurses’ dispute as there have been developments in the last few minutes. There was engagement with the INMO today, where the employer put forward the view that the pay claim cannot be processed within the terms of the current pay agreement. Deputy O’Reilly, with her current and her former hats on has outlined that the union has a different view on this-----