Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

It is not filibuster. The tenders were evaluated by Dr. Linda Caughley, Quality Assurance Director for Northern Ireland and adviser in regard to accreditation in the UK, Miriam O'Reilly and others.

On the public laboratories and the HSE, the HSE, as the Deputy will be aware, undertook a review of laboratory services. The review is quite controversial because it makes radical proposals on what we need to do in terms of laboratory facilities in the public health system to ensure quality assured facilities are available to patients. No question arises in respect of resources. It is a matter for the HSE, Professor Drumm, and his management team to advance the recommendations in that review in the interests of the public health system.

One would think from this debate that what was at issue was a failed bid or industrial relations issues. We are not closing down laboratories in Ireland.

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