Dáil debates

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

National Cervical Screening Programme: Statements

 

9:05 pm

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No, my Department did not know on 6 April about 208 other patients, about Dr. Flannelly's correspondence with Dr. Hickey, or a range of other issues. Knowing what we now know, namely, that there was a much more widespread issue for women in this country, clearly it was an issue of significant patient concern.

On the press statement, if one reads the statement, one will see that it was aimed at reassuring people about our cancer screening programmes and how they actually saved lives. I am not getting into the political space, but the statement was such that if the Minister of the day happened to be asked a question on foot of an individual case, he or she would have been able to express confidence in the screening programme, but obviously not now, knowing what I now know.

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