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

That is fair enough. We then have the remarkable coincidence of that happening to prominent campaigners. That is definitely a remarkable coincidence and even that is a massive understatement. Mr. McCallion referred to difficulties with recruiting and retaining staff. He said that this remains a challenge. We have had some discussion on this. Mr. McCallion will know my view, from this and other forums, with regard to the outsourcing. I have raised the issue consistently. Indeed, I raised it ten or 11 years ago. Obviously, some of those labs do not exist any more but I have been trying to get some kind of information about whether there is a quality issue with regard to some of the labs used. I have been told I can get it but it seems very difficult to do so, considering that Dr. Scally could not and that some of these labs have closed down.

I am firmly of the view that the best way to proceed is to do all of the testing on this island. That is my own view and the view of my party. I have expressed it on many occasions. I understand that moves are being made to repatriate this work. Notwithstanding the fact that recruitment remains a challenge - which is again a very nice way of putting it and I would say that it is extremely difficult to recruit and retain people - what work is being done to upskill people? One cannot just flick a switch and get qualified staff. They need to be in training now. I am not convinced there is a plan in place to repatriate this work but, if there is, students will be studying at the moment to take up these positions. Young people at home will be looking at their CAO forms with a view to taking up a new course or an additional course. What is the position in that regard? What consultation has the HSE had with colleges? What preparations have been made?