Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I join with Deputy Kenny in wishing Senator Obama well in the transition which must take place before he takes office in the new year as President of the United States. We look forward to maintaining a good relationship with the incoming Administration, as we have had with the outgoing one.

I do not agree with Deputy Kenny on his perception of cynicism and pessimism. If that is a trait he wishes to pursue, it is a matter for him. It is a matter for us to continue to deal with a position that is as challenging for us as it is for other countries and to do so based on our belief and capacity to come through this period and return to growth as soon as possible.

With regard to the specific issues mentioned by the Deputy, the Minister informed the Government yesterday about the north east radiology report. The nine patients who had a delayed diagnosis were identified and diagnosed prior to March 2008 and no further cases of delayed diagnoses were identified during this look-back review. The HSE has recognised the need to respond in a timely fashion when serious concerns relating to misdiagnosis arise. Protocols and guidance were not in place around the thresholds and methodology for reviews of this nature when concerns were first raised about delayed diagnosis. The HSE also faced logistical difficulties, including the sourcing of sufficient radiologists to carry out a review of almost 6,000 X-rays and CT scans.

As a result of the issues and delays which arose in commencing this review, a process of engagement with the faculty of radiology of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland was initiated in June this year. Protocols to provide guidance around dealing with reports of error in radiology are currently being developed between the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the HSE. The process will be completed before the end of this year and will provide clarity and confidence in decision-making around reviews of this nature in future. The HSE has also formally engaged with the forum of postgraduate training bodies to set up a rapid response mechanism for incidents of this kind.

With regard to the vaccine issue, the continuation and expansion of the cancer control programme under Professor Tom Keane remains a priority and funding of €15 million has been made available for this purpose. At present, the national cervical screening programme, CervicalCheck, is being rolled out with a full-year cost of €35 million. The programme will provide free smear tests through primary care settings to the 1.1 million women living in Ireland aged between 25 and 60 years. A successful national programme has the potential to cut mortality rates from cervical cancer by up to 80%, and we will proceed along that line.

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