Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mr. McCallion stated the HSE examined the option of temporarily suspending the programme for women who are not symptomatic. I refer to those women who get their letter to go for a routine smear test in the normal course of the programme. The HSE, however, is not going to suspend the programme because it believes it is going to source capacity from these additional laboratories once quality assurance and everything else is completed. I do not mean to be disrespectful to anyone in the room but the HSE has not exactly covered itself in glory in sourcing capacity. I understand the Minister was also not helpful. In the event that capacity cannot be sourced, will temporary suspension be back on the table?

Women in a high-risk category or new women who may be at high risk would not be included in the suspension. It would just be for ordinary run-of-the-mill routine tests. Will temporary suspension be back on the table if the additional capacity cannot be sourced? Is there a timeline or deadline for when that decision will be made? Women are waiting while all of this is going on and they are, of course, anxious. Confidence in the programme has been undermined. I take every opportunity to tell people screening saves lives and they should always go to get tested. Mr. McCallion alluded to that earlier as well. Having said that, however, he will understand women are nervous.