Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The deaths have occurred of 17 women because they were given the all-clear following smear tests for cervical cancer checks. Since last Saturday some 8,000 women have contacted the HSE helpline because of these deaths. Out of the 17 women who died, 15 did not know of the misdiagnoses.

As with other issues such as the mother and baby homes, the Magdalen laundries and the hepatitis C scandal, the 208 women who were diagnosed with cervical cancer should have received earlier intervention. Of these women, 162 were not notified that an internal review of their cases had been carried out by CervicalCheck. They should have been told and they had a right to know. Vicky Phelan was one of these women. It is because of her courage that we are finding out what has happened. I pay tribute to her.

I am delighted that the Minister has confirmed that the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, will conduct an independent inquiry into these women being given the all-clear results. They need answers.

CervicalCheck began in 2008 and more than 3 million smear tests have been performed. This has led to some 50,000 treatments for pre-cancerous cells. We must review all screening programmes regularly. Screening is the best way to detect cervical cancer. The screening programme has saved the lives of many women and we must reassure women that it is essential they continue to attend to have their smear tests. Vicky Phelan has said that she wants women to continue to go for cervical smear tests. It is very important that women get their smear test results and also the results of their back reviews.

Appropriate treatment of pre-cancerous changes to cells prevents 90% of all cervical cancers, as evidenced by a 7% decrease per year in cervical cancer in Ireland. Five times more women would die from cervical cancer if we did not have a cervical cancer screening programme. The cancer screening programmes, offered through the HSE National Screening Service, aim to detect cancer as early as possible, leading to better treatment options and outcomes for patients.

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