Dr. Sharon McGuinness:

I might answer initially before passing to my colleague as appropriate. Accreditation is very much an independent and impartial service. To answer Deputy Kelly's question, we are not affiliated with the Department of Health and there is no connection between INAB and the Department.

We were asked whether the laboratory was accredited. The question can be answered based only on the evidence, the standard we work to, namely, ISO 15189, and the ability to have what we call satellite laboratories - that is my expression and I apologise if it is not the correct one - in that situation. That was the question we were asked by the scoping inquiry in February and it is the one we answered. Every year, there was an additional approach in respect of accreditation, which took place in April and May.

Accreditation is part of a bigger picture. We perform one element, namely, accreditation, but other elements, such as quality control and ongoing checks and balances in the system, are involved. We assess the competency, the management systems, and the suitability and so on of the service being provided.

I would have provided that context earlier but Deputy Kelly was in a bit of a rush.