Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I have a lot to do with it, Deputy. My obligation is to ensure there is in place a screening programme and to get Government backing for it. This means I must obtain resources to allow the screening service to recruit staff, roll out the programme and to pay for cytology services and smear testing. It is also my responsibility to ensure the service being rolled out is quality assured and is not inferior. The cost of the service is not at issue as alleged earlier by Deputy Reilly. What is important is the quality of service provided.

I am not distancing myself from any company. I am simply saying that I have no connections with it contrary to stories planted by various individuals in the tabloid media. I have never met anyone from the company and I know nothing about it. In fact, I had never heard of the company until last year when the HSE outsourced work to it.

It would be improper for me, as Minister for Health and Children, or any other Minister, to interfere in a tendering process.

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