Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Durkan. I reiterate that that was the basis on which I made the decision for the repeat smear test, namely, to endeavour to provide reassurance women were already seeking. Whether I issued a press release or did it or not, they were going to seek reassurance because women make their own decisions about their own healthcare. I thought that was a place we had moved to in this country and it was a good place in which to be.

I am pleased Deputy Durkan mentioned open disclosure because it is something on which we can all agree. At the heart of the CervicalCheck debacle was the failure to openly disclose. It was about non-disclosure. We are now legislating through the patient safety Bill, which the committee has considered at the pre-legislative scrutiny stage. The Bill is on the Government priority list and will legislate for mandatory open disclosure for serious reportable incidents.

Deputy Durkan made some valid points about governance. As I said to Deputy Jonathan O'Brien, there will clearly be a need to strengthen the governance. Of that there is no doubt and the report is very specific in that regard. It also talks about the need for closer alignment, as we move closer to the opening of the project, between the Children's Health Ireland board, which is the group within the health service that will run the hospital and the build board, the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. That becomes all the more important when we consider that the Connolly part of the hospital will open this year. We are still having a debate in the Oireachtas about whether it is the right site and other such matters when the Connolly part is opening and the St. James's part is well under way. There are approximately 400 people working on the site and more than €200 million has been spent. How I square that circle in terms of recognising that they both have separate functions and roles with the view of PwC that there needs to be closer alignment between them is something I will reflect on in the coming weeks.

Reference was made to cost reduction. I acknowledge that Deputy Donnelly asked that it would be included in the terms of reference and it was specifically included at his request. The report is clear that the opportunities are limited. On page 6 it states that the cost reduction opportunities are limited because 85% of the budget is already contractually committed, which suggests that the focus of the board should now be on reducing further the risk for additional costs at this stage. That is where I hope its focus will be. It does say that there is a technical possibility of reducing some costs but they would need to be offset against any risks. When I meet Mr. Barry I will ask that the board formally consider that and give me its view in relation to that.