Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Obviously, we know that only for Vicky Phelan and the publicity that the Department of Health figured out was going to be generated, we would not be here talking about this tonight. We are thinking about her tonight. She is watching this debate. I wonder what she is thinking as further revelations are literally happening live in this Chamber. She tweeted a while ago to say "I will be appearing on @RTE_PrimeTime tonight to react to the latest disturbing developments in this ever deepening scandal". I am referring to her tweet for a reason. The information that was provided during Leaders' Questions earlier today when the Taoiseach was questioned on this issue is already out of date. It was actually a waste of time. The Minister for Health needs to assure us that the information he is giving us tonight will not be out of date by tomorrow. I have no confidence that this will be the case. It is extraordinary that the Minister has walked in here to say he does not know how many cases there are. What in the name of God were all the senior management officials in the National Screening Service doing all weekend? There are nine people in the central service and three people in CervicalCheck. The lady who has resigned was reporting to the head of screening. The national director is next. There is also the chief clinical officer, etc. There are 17 people in management alone, but they could not bloody well tell the Minister that there were extra cases outside the national registry. It is not acceptable that the Minister has come in here tonight without knowing how many cases there are and neither is what the Minister was told as he was coming in here acceptable.

What in the name of God did the Minister say to the people who told him this? Who told him this as he walked in here tonight? What did the Minister do? I know what I would have done if somebody told me that and had not done his or her job all weekend. What are all these people doing? Instead of having confidence tonight, this is the main story on RTÉ and it will be the main story around the country.

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