Mr. Damien McCallion:

The RCOG will produce the overall report on the laboratories, not only on the 221 women who were affected initially and their families but also on all of the cervical cases in which women consented, of whom there are over 1,000. On the report to which the Deputy refers, we have completed a report which simply outlines a profile of the laboratories, with an explanation. We got someone from outside the State to do it.

We have always said the first group we will meet to go through the information is the patients. We are due to meet them in the next couple of weeks. Once they are happy with it, we will release the report. That work is done, but, as I said, the patient representatives will be our first port of call.

On the RCOG review and the group of 221, I am not aware of a request that it to be moved. I am not saying it did not come; it may well have, but the RCOG process is independent. Our role is to try and support it. We have a significant team working on the issue because we have had to manage the consent process and the information in a range of areas. The RCOG review is independent and we have a weekly call on it.

I am aware that within the group of 221 women there are a number who have consented. I cannot give the Deputy the exact number, but certainly there are are women who have consented to participate in the review. There are approximately 1,800 women - I do not have the exact figures - with invasive cervical cancer, of whom over 1,000 have consented to participate in the review. The slides are with or being sent to the RCOG. In total, although I do not have the exact number of women - there are more slides than women - 600 are scheduled to be sent in the next three to four weeks. That will complete the slide transfer.