Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I ask the Deputy to couch his comments in a manner proportionate and appropriate to what we know today. What we know today is that the practice that is subject to this discussion stopped in September. The look-back began in December at the time of the appointment of the CEO, Professor Conlon. It was done with all due haste and expedited as quickly as possible, and the Minister was informed accordingly. We are anxious to get through this work as quickly as possible. I made the comment in my response that it is unfortunate the information came out in the manner it did. The main misfortune concerns the reassurance that is necessary for patients today. The hospital is to have the work done by the end of May and provide assurances in what I hope will be the vast majority of cases.

As I stated, HIQA and the hospital are satisfied that a risk stratification process was engaged in so the more serious cases would be examined in the earlier part of the review. The reforms are real and are bearing fruit. HIQA is an example of the kind of body needed to improve and restore public confidence in our health services, which are all too often criticised in this House and the media when great work is being done, particularly in the areas of breast cancer and cancer care reform generally.

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