Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

It is extraordinary that the Deputy who has been screaming at the Government to introduce the cervical screening programme, a Deputy who understands that we do not currently have the capacity in this State to provide quality-assured cytology services, is now screaming at me because we are proceeding to introduce that programme this year. I am also surprised that Deputy Reilly is raising the prospect of private patient data being made widely available in the United States. I do not understand his concern. Others may have something to say about it

Our tests will meet the standards laid down by the British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology. That is the most important issue. It is our intention to bring the laboratories in this State up to the standard required and to achieve accreditation. However, we will not be in a position to do so between now and the summer.

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