Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 17 December 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Engagement with Patient Representatives on CervicalCheck and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Review Process

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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I welcome Ms Lorraine Walsh and Mr. Stephen Teap. I know them quite well at this stage. I compliment them both on the work they have done and continue to do. The journey they have come on and the way they have put themselves forward are simply incredible. I admire them both greatly. This is along with a certain woman who is now watching us on her phone at Dublin Airport on her way to New Zealand, Vicky Phelan. We can all give her a wave. Hello Vicky, who is watching in. She will probably give out to me for saying this.

Today, we have gone through much detail. I know Stephen Teap has been in front of the committee before. This is Lorraine Walsh's first time. She was brave putting forward her points and telling her story. The level of detail she gave of her personal story is unprecedented. I note the solidarity the two witnesses have shown for one another. Many people think that there is a big team involved but it is just the two witnesses and Vicky Phelan. They have gone into an extraordinary level of detail and educated themselves. This learning process across a whole range of issues has been seismic.

I asked for the witnesses to be invited before the committee as part of this process. The most important point is that they get to say what they want to say. I am conscious that much of the information is important before we meet the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, RCOG, tomorrow morning. Is it fair to say that the witnesses do not have faith in RCOG?