Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Of course we want to have quality-assured laboratory facilities in Ireland. Among the recommendations in the McGoogan report, which has been quoted here this morning, is the need to rationalise our laboratory services. When I was in British Columbia two years ago as part of the advanced preparation of the cancer control programme, I noted that a laboratory there dealt with 600,000 smear tests per year. That is the volume it deals with to get the quality assurance that is required. I am not suggesting that we move to 600,000 here but I am simply saying that is what is happening in other places.

Regarding the data, it is like comparing apples and oranges. The data the Deputy quoted is not peer-reviewed and has not appeared in any scientific journal. To quote a medical publication as a scientific journal is wrong. The characteristics of the data in Ireland and the US are different——

See this speech in context